International Desk

Voting is underway in the final lap of polling in 57 seats across seven states and the union territory of Chandigarh as the world’s largest parliamentary election draws to a close on Saturday evening.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a rare third consecutive tenure, is in the fray in today’s phase of voting from Varanasi where he is challenged by Ajay Rai (Congress) and Ather Jamal Lari (Bahujan Samaj Party) among some others.

Over 10.06 crore citizens, including nearly 5.24 crore men and 4.82 crore women, electors are eligible to vote in this phase that will mark the end of the polling which began on April 19.

Voting is scheduled in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three seats in Jharkhand besides Chandigarh.

Other prominent candidates among the total 904 contestants in the fray today are India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut.

The end of the marathon polling process earlier covered 486 Lok Sabha seats out of the total of 543 in 28 states and Union territories. The assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also went to polls. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4. In Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the counting for the assembly polls will be held on June 2.

According to Election Commission guidelines, television channels and news outlets will be able to run exit poll data and its results after 6.30 pm today.

The EC said basic facilities including ample shade, drinking water, ramps, and toilets are being provided to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment in 1.09 lakh polling centres. The poll panel has also directed CEOs and state machineries to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather or rainfall wherever predicted.

Modi and the EC urged voters to turn out in greater numbers and vote with responsibility and pride. The turnout in the first six phases was 66.14 per cent, 66.71, 65.68, 69.16, 62.2 and 63.36 per cent respectively.

The polls in South Bengal, a traditional TMC stronghold, will test the party's dominance with the national spotlight on Sandeshkhali in Basirhat constituency due to allegations of atrocities on women and land grabs against TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh.

In West Bengal, today’s voting will also cover Dum Dum, Barasat, Joinagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, and Kolkata Uttar, where TMC secured victories in the 2019 elections.

TMC heavyweight Abhishek Banerjee, considered the party's de facto number two, is contesting from Diamond Harbour. He takes on CPI (M)'s Pratikur Rahaman and BJP's Abhijit Das in a three-way contest.

The polling and result of the election in the minority-dominated Basirhat Lok Sabha seat will be keenly watched as the BJP has nominated Rekha Patra, a prominent local protestor against land grabs and sexual abuse. She is pitted against TMC veteran Haji Nurul Islam and CPI (M)’s Nirapada Sardar.

Another constituency to be in focus is Mandi in Himachal Pradesh where Kangana Ranaut faces Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh Singh, the heir of the erstwhile Rampur royal family.

Stakes are also high for Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur who is seeking a fifth term from Hamirpur, and former Union minister Anand Sharma, who is a Congress candidate in Kangra Lok Sabha constituency in the state.