62% Voter Turnout in LS Elections' Last Phase with Bengal Clashes

The marathon polling process to elect the 18th Lok Sabha concluded on Saturday with the seventh phase of elections witnessing an approximate voter turnout of 62.36 per cent. Clashes between TMC and BJP supporters were reported in Sandeshkhali and other parts of West Bengal. Fifty-seven constituencies, including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term, went to polls. The estimated polling percentage in the last phase was higher than the corresponding phase in the 2019 parliamentary polls. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.The last phase of voting took place amid a severe heatwave in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chandigarh. Simultaneously, polling for the remaining assembly constituencies in Odisha and bypolls to six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh also took place.The seven-phase polling that began on April 19 marked the end of the election process for the 18th Lok Sabha. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim also held assembly elections during this period. The BJP-led NDA is seeking a rare consecutive third term in office while the opposition INDIA bloc is trying to upset their chances by putting up a joint fight in some states.Several exit polls predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA. Leaders of INDIA bloc parties claimed that they would get more than 295 seats, enough to form the next government. Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that people have voted in record numbers to re-elect the NDA government and rejected the regressive politics of the INDI Alliance.The voter turnout varied across states with Jharkhand recording 70.66 per cent, West Bengal 73.47 per cent, Himachal Pradesh 69.87 per cent, Punjab 59.92 per cent, Chandigarh 67.90 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 55.59 per cent, Bihar 51.92 per cent, and Odisha around 70.67 per cent.The Election Commission (EC) thanked the Indian voters for their participation and stated that Indian democracy and elections have once again worked their magic. However, clashes between TMC and BJP supporters were reported in Sandeshkhali, Jadavpur, and Diamond Harbour constituencies in West Bengal. Both parties accused each other of electoral malpractices and stopping polling agents from entering booths. Police had to intervene and resorted to baton charge and tear gas shelling to disperse the mob.Prime Minister Modi appealed to people to exercise their franchise and make democracy more vibrant and participative. The final phase of the Lok Sabha elections witnessed prominent candidates such as Union Minister Anurag Thakur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti, and actor Kangana Ranaut in the fray.Over 10.06 crore citizens were eligible to vote in this phase, including nearly 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women, and 3,574 third-gender electors. The campaigning for the last phase saw ruling BJP leaders accusing the Congress and the INDIA opposition bloc of corruption, anti-Hindu sentiments, loot, appeasement, and dynastic politics. The opposition parties claimed that the BJP is anti-farmer, anti-youth, and would change or scrap the Constitution if it wins the election.The last phase witnessed polling in eight Lok Sabha constituencies of Bihar and the bypoll to the Agiaon Assembly seat. Union Minister R K Singh and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad were among the contestants. In Jharkhand, the Dumka, Rajmahal, and Godda seats went to polls. All eyes were on Dumka, where the BJP's Sita Soren, the sister-in-law of jailed former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, contested against the INDIA bloc's Nalin Soren.Polling also took place for six Lok Sabha and 42 assembly seats in Odisha. Prominent candidates in Odisha included Assembly Speaker Pramila Mallik, Chief Whip Prashant Muduli, Odisha BJP Chief Manmohan Samal, and BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda. West Bengal witnessed voting for the Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, and Kolkata Uttar seats. Several heavyweight candidates from TMC, BJP, and CPIM were in the fray.In Uttar Pradesh, voting was held in 13 constituencies. Punjab saw separate contests between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Himachal Pradesh witnessed polling for four Lok Sabha seats and six assembly constituencies. Mandi constituency garnered attention as BJP's Kangana Ranaut contested against Congress' Vikramaditya Singh.The focus now shifts to June 4 when the counting of votes will take place. The results will determine whether the BJP-led NDA will secure a consecutive third term or if the INDIA bloc will form the next government.