Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called on voters in 57 constituencies set to vote in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections to turn out in large numbers.
“Today is the final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As 57 seats across 8 states and UTs go to the polls, I urge voters to turn out in large numbers and vote. I hope young and women voters exercise their franchise in record numbers. Together, let’s make our democracy more vibrant and participative,” Modi posted on social platform X. Voting began at 7 AM in these constituencies across eight states and Union territories. The fate of 904 candidates, including Modi, will be determined by 10.06 crore voters across 1.09 lakh polling stations.
Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, will see polling in 13 out of 80 seats during this phase. Varanasi is the most high-profile constituency, where PM Modi is seeking a third consecutive term as a parliamentarian, facing off against Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai.
In Gorakhpur, the stronghold of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, sitting BJP MP Ravi Kishan is competing against Samajwadi Party’s Kajal Nishad and Bahujan Samaj Party’s Javed Ashraf. Union Minister Anupriya Patel is contesting from Mirzapur.
Bihar will witness voting in eight seats, including Patna Sahib and Pataliputra. Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti is running from Pataliputra, while former Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad is contesting from Patna Sahib.
In West Bengal, Sandeshkhali survivor Rekha Patra is the BJP candidate from Basirhat. Other prominent candidates include TMC’s General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour), Sudip Bandopadhyay of TMC (Kolkata Uttar), Sougata Roy (Dum Dum), and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat).
Additionally, all 13 seats in Punjab are voting in this phase. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party and its INDIA bloc ally Congress are contesting separately.
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