Voting for the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has begun, encompassing 57 seats across seven states and one Union Territory. Among the key candidates is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is vying for a historic third term from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
The electoral process has been largely peaceful, with notable figures such as BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Minister Anurag Thakur, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, their daughter and Saran candidate Rohini Acharya, AAP MP Raghav Chadha, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath casting their votes.
However, violence erupted in Kolkata's Jadavpur constituency prior to polling. Indian Secular Front candidate Noor Khan's car was vandalized in Bhangar, and bombs were thrown in the area. The ruling Trinamool Congress has been accused of targeting ISF and CPI(M) workers.
Prime Minister Modi has encouraged voters to participate in large numbers, emphasizing the importance of a vibrant and participative democracy.
The current phase includes all 13 seats in Punjab, four in Himachal Pradesh, 13 in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha, three in Jharkhand, and one in Chandigarh. Additionally, this phase will see voting for the remaining 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha and by-elections to six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh.
This final phase concludes the extensive polling process that began on April 19, covering 486 Lok Sabha seats across 28 states and Union Territories. Simultaneously, elections were held for the assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.
