NEW DELHI: As the
2024 general elections
reach the final stage, the seventh and last phase of
voting
is set to take place on Saturday, June 1. Citizens across 57 Lok Sabha constituencies spanning seven states and one Union territory, will exercise their democratic right to elect their representatives.
Lok Sabha elections Phase 7: Who will vote
In this
final phase
, voters across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand will exercise their democratic right to elect representatives to the lower house of Parliament.
A total of 904 candidates are vying for victory in these constituencies.
Punjab: All 13 seats in the northwestern state
Himachal Pradesh: All four seats in the northern state
Jharkhand: Three seats out of the 14 constituencies in the eastern state
Odisha: Six seats out of the 21 constituencies in the eastern state
Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats out of the 80 constituencies in the northern state
Bihar: Eight seats out of the 40 constituencies in the eastern state
West Bengal: Nine seats out of the 42 constituencies in the eastern state
Chandigarh:
The sole seat in the union territory
Lok Sabha elections Phase 7: When will they vote
In this concluding phase, polling booths will open their doors at 7 am. The voting process will extend until 6 pm, ensuring ample opportunity for all eligible voters to participate. Additionally, electoral authorities will accommodate individuals already in line at closing time.
Lok Sabha elections Phase 7: Key constituencies and candidates
Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks re-election from this high-profile constituency, aiming for a third consecutive term. The opposition INDIA bloc backs
Congress
candidate Ajay Rai in a bid to challenge Modi's dominance.
Ghazipur: Afzal Ansari, now representing the Samajwadi Party, aims to retain the seat he won in 2019. BJP fields Parasnath Rai, while BSP's Umesh Kumar Singh adds a triangular dimension to the contest.
Patna Sahib: Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad seeks re-election from this BJP stronghold. He faces a challenge from Congress candidate Anshul Abhijeet, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
Karakat: Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh, after withdrawing from Asansol, contests as an independent against NDA candidate Upendra Kushwaha. CPI's Raja Ram Singh adds another layer to the triangular contest.
Mandi: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut makes her electoral debut from this seat, aiming to win it back for the BJP. She faces Vikramaditya Singh of Congress.
Chandigarh: BJP replaces two-time MP Kirron Kher with Sanjay Tandon. Congress nominee and former Union minister Manish Tewari, backed by AAP, stands against him.
Lok Sabha elections: Who rules which state/UT
Uttar Pradesh: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds power outright in Uttar Pradesh, a stronghold where it governs independently.
Bihar: In Bihar, the BJP governs in alliance with regional parties. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, shares power with regional allies.
Odisha: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), aligned with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), governs Odisha, steering the state's affairs.
Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh is under the governance of the Indian National Congress, with the party holding power in the state.
Punjab: The political landscape in Punjab is dominated by the INDIA alliance led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs the state in alliance with other regional parties.
Jharkhand: The state of Jharkhand is governed by the INDIA alliance led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), reflecting the diverse political fabric of the region.
West Bengal: Trinamool Congress, a key member of the INDIA alliance, has been in power in West Bengal since 2011, shaping the state's political course.
Chandigarh: As a federally-administered territory, Chandigarh operates under the central government's jurisdiction, without a state government of its own.
Lok Sabha elections Phase 7: What's closed, what's open
Closed:
- All schools and educational institutions will be closed within the polling constituencies. Some of these centers are utilized as polling booths, necessitating their closure. Heightened security measures will be in place at these locations.
- All state government offices will remain closed throughout the polling hours.
- In some constituencies, banks will remain closed due to the polling falling on a Saturday.
- Sale of commercial liquor will be banned, and liquor stores will remain closed during polling hours in all 57 constituencies.
Open:
- Essential services such as hospitals, ambulance services, healthcare facilities, and law enforcement facilities will remain open across all constituencies. Pharmacies and grocery shops will also continue operations.
- Public transportation will operate on its usual routes and schedules, with some constituencies possibly adding extra routes to facilitate voter turnout.
- Hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and theatres are expected to largely remain open. However, their operating hours may vary to accommodate the voting timings and ensure the smooth functioning of the electoral process.
Lok Sabha elections: Voting so far and result date
Till now, the fate of 487 constituencies out of the total 543 has been sealed, with the conclusion of the first six phases of the Lok Sabha elections.
Voting has so far concluded in various states and union territories, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Karnataka, Mizoram, Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Telangana, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, the Andaman and Nicobar islands, as well as the territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, Diu, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puduch*erry.
The results of the Lok Sabha election 2024 will be announced on June 4.
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