The last phase of the Lok Sabha elections is here, with voting set to take place on Saturday across 57 seats in eight states and union territories. This phase includes the prominent constituency of Varanasi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting.
Alongside, polling for the remaining 42 out of 147 Assembly seats in Odisha will also occur simultaneously. 10.06 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this final phase.
In this concluding phase, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chandigarh will witness polling. A total of 904 candidates are in the fray, including 95 women candidates.
Notably, BJP had secured 25 of these seats in the 2019 elections, with Congress and Trinamool Congress winning eight and nine seats respectively. Other parties like BJD, JDU, BSP, Apna Dal, Akali Dal, JMM, and AAP also hold representation in this phase.
Election Commission’s Appeal and Logistics
Despite scorching weather conditions, the Election Commission has reported significant voter turnout in previous phases, with female participation surpassing male turnout in recent phases.
Over 10.9 lakh polling officials are deployed across 1.09 lakh polling stations in these constituencies to facilitate smooth voting processes.
Notable Contests and Candidates
Several high-profile contests mark this phase, including Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi against Ajay Rai of Congress, Kangana Ranaut of BJP against Vikramaditya Singh of Congress in Mandi, and Manish Tewari of Congress against Sanjay Tandon of BJP in Chandigarh. Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee is also contesting from Diamond Harbour.
This phase encompasses 57 seats, with 41 in the general category, 13 reserved for Scheduled Castes, and 3 for Scheduled Tribes.
The total electorate comprises 10.06 crore voters, including 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women, and 3574 third-gender voters. Polling officials are supported by 8 helicopter sorties in Himachal Pradesh and 172 observers across states.
Poll Surveillance and Security Measures
To ensure fair and peaceful elections, extensive surveillance mechanisms are in place, including flying squads, static surveillance teams, video surveillance teams, and international and inter-state border check posts to monitor the flow of illicit substances and materials.
With voting concluding on Saturday, the focus now shifts to the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. The results will determine the composition of the Lok Sabha and the impact on state assemblies, reflecting the democratic choices of millions of Bharatiya citizens.
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