Sporadic incidents of violence mar final phase of voting in Bengal

New Delhi: The gruelling Lok Sabha elections spread over seven phases finally culminated on Saturday when the remaining 57 of the 543 constituencies went to polls. As per the Election Commission, an approximate voter turnout of 60.56 per cent was recorded till 11 pm.

In Jharkhand, a voter turnout of nearly 70.01 per cent was recorded, while Uttar Pradesh logged a polling percentage of 55.60 per cent. The figure in West Bengal was 70.53 per in Bihar it was 51.84 per cent and in Himachal Pradesh it was 68.88 per cent. Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 56.58 per cent, while Chandigarh registered a voting percentage of 67.90 per cent and Odisha recorded around 68.72 per cent voting.

Though the polling remained mostly peaceful in most areas, BJP's Patliputra candidate and former Union minister Ramkripal Yadav's convoy came under attack when miscreants opened fire on the cavalcade while it was passing through the Patna-Jehanabad highway.

In the TMC-ruled West Bengal, sporadic incidents of violence were reported. Also, there were a few complaints regarding EVM glitches and rigging at some booths.

Polling was held in seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh for 57 constituencies, including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha. The first phase of polling was held on April 19.

Polling for the remaining 42 Assembly constituencies in Odisha and bypolls to six Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh also took place simultaneously with the 57 Lok Sabha seats on Saturday. Three other states’s Assemblies -- Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim -- also went to the polls.

Now all eyes are on June 4, when it will be decided whether the BJP-led NDA will retain power for the third time or whether the INDIA bloc will wrest power from the Modi-led NDA.

As the polling of the last phase ended, the Prime Minister commended the Election Commission for their “exemplary efforts in ensuring a smooth and fair electoral process.” Mr Modi lauded the “dedication and meticulous planning”, which he said was crucial in upholding the integrity of democracy, allowing citizens across the nation to vote with confidence and security.

“Our electoral process is something every believer in democratic values takes inspiration from,” the PM posted on X. He also expressed gratitude to the security forces for their unwavering vigilance during the entire election.

Earlier in the morning, Mr Modi urged people to vote in large numbers as polling for the last phase of Lok Sabha elections began.

"Together, let's make our democracy more vibrant and participative," the Prime Minister said on X.

As the marathon election exercise culminated, the Election Commission said on Saturday that it was "deeply humbled" by the voters who made it to polling stations, overcoming many challenges and dilemmas they might have. In view of heat-wave conditions in large swathes of northern and eastern India, poll officials had arranged for cold drinking water, coolers and oral rehydration solution kits at polling stations.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and the EC family, said, "Deeply humbled by the voters, who made it to the polling station overcoming many challenges and dilemmas they might have." Mr Kumar had been personally preparing for the parliamentary polls for the past two years.

"Indian voters have given their most cherished right to vote for the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha. Indian democracy and Indian elections have again done the magic. The great Indian voters, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, socio-economic and educational background, have done it once again," the poll watchdog said in a statement. The real winner, EC said, is the Indian voter.

The turnout in the first six phases of the general election was 66.14 per cent, 66.71 per cent, 65.68 per cent, 69.16 per cent, 62.2 per cent and 63.36 per cent, respectively. The poll panel had called upon voters to turn out in greater numbers and vote with responsibility and pride.

The EC also expressed its gratitude to the entire election machinery, including security forces, for their dedication and commitment in providing a smooth, peaceful and festive environment to voters across the country, braving bad weather and logistical challenges like tough terrains and managing law and order in a diverse demography.

The Commission also thanked all political parties and candidates, which it described as critical to the Indian elections.

The Commission also thanked the media for their contribution.

Though the polling remained peaceful, in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, clashes broke out between the TMC and the BJP supporters over allegations of electoral malpractice. BJP candidate Rekha Patra alleged that the TMC goons stopped voters from casting their votes. The TMC made counter allegations and accused Ms Patra and the BJP goons of trying to vitiate the poll atmosphere.

As both groups came to blows on Basanti highway, police resorted to baton charge and tear gas shelling to disperse the mob. The TMC and the BJP workers also clashed in some parts of Jadavpur and Diamond Harbour constituencies.

Clashes broke out between supporters of the TMC, the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and the BJP in Jadavpur as the parties alleged that their polling agents were stopped from entering booths.

Prominent candidates among the 904 in the fray were Union minister Anurag Thakur, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti and actor Kangana Ranaut.

Polling in Bihar took place in eight Lok Sabha constituencies, along with the bypoll to the Agiaon Assembly seat. Union minister R.K. Singh and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad are among the contestants in the fray.

The Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda seats in Jharkhand went to the polls. All eyes are on Dumka, where the BJP's Sita Soren, the sister-in-law of jailed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, is contesting against the INDIA bloc's Nalin Soren. Ms Soren, a three-term former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator, joined the BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Polling took place in six Lok Sabha and 42 Assembly seats in Odisha. Assembly Speaker Pramila Mallik, the government's chief whip Prashant Muduli, Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal and BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda are among the candidates in the fray.

Voting was held for the Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin and Kolkata Uttar seats in West Bengal.

Several heavyweight candidates, including incumbent TMC MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Sougata Roy and Mala Roy, former Union minister Debasree Chaudhuri of the BJP and senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty, are in the fray.

Voting took place in 13 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the highest number of 80 members to the Lok Sabha among all the states.

In Punjab, INDIA bloc allies -- the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) -- contested the election separately, while the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are fighting the polls on their own for the first time since 1996.

In Himachal Pradesh, polling was held for four Lok Sabha seats -- Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra and Shimla -- and six Assembly constituencies of Sujanpur, Dharamshala, Lahaul and Spiti, Barsar, Gagret and Kutlehar. All eyes are on Mandi, where Ms Ranaut of the BJP has locked horns with the Congress's Vikramaditya Singh.