Lok Sabha elections Phase 7 voting highlights- ‘61.85% voter turnout in phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections’: EC

The voting took place for 59 seats including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where Modi is seeking re-election, bringing the curtain down on the seven-phased mammoth electoral exercise which began on April 11.In the last phase of voting, 13 seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, all four constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and one seat in the Union Territory of Chandigarh witnessed polling.According to Election Commission of India (ECI), over 10.01 lakh voters will decide the fate of 918 candidates. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. Watch: Big fights to watch out for in final phase of voting Follow updates here:

7:45 pm IST

61.85% voter turnout in phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections

According to the Election Commission of India, the total turnout in phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections was 61.85%.

7:15 pm IST

₹15 lakh announced for kin of polling officials who died on election duty

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announces an ex-gratia of ₹15 lakh each to the next of the kin of three polling officials of the state who died on Lok Sabha Elections duty. The deceased officials were Vineet Kumar, Devi Singh, and Lot Ram. :ANI

7:00 pm IST

₹839.03 crore seized during phase 7 of LS polls

₹839.03 crore, liquor worth ₹294.41 crore, drugs/narcotics worth ₹1270.37 crore, precious metals worth ₹986.76 crore, other items worth ₹58.56 crore, according to the Election Commission seizure report for the 7th phase of general elections. :ANI

6:35 pm IST

Times Now-VMR predicts majority for NDA with 300 plus seats

First exit poll, released by Times Now-VMR, predicts majority for PM Modi-led NDA with 300 plus seats.

6:30 pm IST

98-year-old Panjaki Devi casts her vote in Himachal Pradesh

98-year-old Panjaki Devi cast her vote at booth number 7 in Himachal Pradesh’s Sarkaghat for Mandi Parliamentary Constituency earlier today. :ANI

98-year-old Panjaki Devi casts her vote in Himachal Pradesh ( ANI Twitter )

6:20 pm IST

Exit poll results to be announced soon

Click here for Lok Sabha elections Exit Polls 2019 LIVE Updates: Voting ends, exit polls to be released after 6:30 pm

Click here for Assembly elections Exit Polls 2019 LIVE Updates: Polling concluded, exit polls to be released soon

6:10 pm IST

60.21% voter turnout recorded till 6 pm in phase 7

60.21% voter turnout has been recorded in the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections till 6 pm. The poll percentage was 49.92% in Bihar, 66.18% in Himachal Pradesh, 69.38% in Madhya Pradesh, 58.81% in Punjab, 54.37% in Uttar Pradesh, 73.05%, in West Bengal, 70.5% in Jharkhand and 63.57% in Chandigarh. :ANI

6:00 pm IST

Action taken to prevent violence in West Bengal

“2,022 rowdy elements were detained across West Bengal so that they do not enter the polling area,” said election commission.

5:50 pm IST

Former Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh casts vote

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, his wife Pratibha Singh, and son Vikramaditya Singh cast their votes for Mandi Parliamentary Constituency earlier today. :ANI

5:40 pm IST

Polling has concluded in 542 parliamentary constituencies: EC

Polling has concluded in 542 parliamentary constituencies across states and union territories, says Election Commission. :ANI

5:35 pm IST

Election Commission holds press conference

Ahead of exit polls that are to begin after voting in the seventh phase ends at 6 pm, the election commission held a press conference.

5:30 pm IST

Andhra CM leaves 10 Janpath after meeting with Sonia Gandhi

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has left 10 Janpath after a meeting with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

5:15 pm IST

3-feet tall Vinita Mehta casts her vote in Indore

3-feet tall Vinita Mehta cast her vote for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 at polling booth no. 212 in Indore earlier today. :ANI

3-feet tall Vinita Mehta casts her vote in Indore ( ANI Twitter )

5:00 pm IST

‘Unprecedented torture by BJP, CRPF during polling in our state’: Mamata Banerjee

“Since morning the torture that BJP workers and CRPF have done during polling in our state, I have never seen it before,” said Mamata Banerjee after casting her vote. :ANI

4:29 pm IST

Mamata Banerjee casts her vote in Kolkata

Mamata Banerjee cast her vote at a polling station in Kolkata.

Mamata Banerjee casts her vote in Kolkata. ( ANI Twitter )

4:15 pm IST

Villagers in Gaya boycott polls over lack of proper roads

Locals in Gaya’s Chiriyawan village boycott polls and protest outside polling booth no. 236. “Road nahi to vote nahi. We went to so many offices, but the government didn’t give ‘No Objection Certificate’. MLA says our village is not in the map, so why would we vote,” they said. :ANI

4:05 pm IST

Sourav Ganguly casts his vote

Former Indian cricket team Captain Sourav Ganguly cast his vote. :ANI

 

3:50 pm IST

‘We are voting for development’, say people of Bhil tribe in MP’s Dhal

People of Bhil tribe in Dhal village turned out in large numbers to vote for Lok Sabha Elections 2019. “We have come to vote as we have to select a government. We have a lot of issues like road, water, employment. We are voting for development,” they said. :ANI

3:35 pm IST

52.89% voter turnout in phase 7 till 3 pm

The overall voter turnout in Phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections 2019 stood at 52.89% at 3 pm .

The poll percentage was 46.66% in Bihar, 52.86% in Himachal Pradesh, 58.72% in Madhya Pradesh, 48.78% in Punjab, 46.58% in Uttar Pradesh, 63.64% in West Bengal, 64.81% in Jharkhand, and 51.18% in Chandigarh, as per data on Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app.

3:08 pm IST

2 poll officials die while on duty in UP

Two poll officials ,including a presiding officer, died while on election duty in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur.

2:50 pm IST

Conjoined twins cast vote in Bihar

Conjoined sisters Saba and Farah cast their votes as separate individuals with independent voting rights for the first time in Bihar in the final phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

2:15 pm IST

At 2 pm, 41% voter turnout in Phase 7

The overall voter turnout in Phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections 2019 stood at 41.41% at 2 pm .

The poll percentage was 36.20% in Bihar, 43.73% in Himachal Pradesh, 46.03% in Madhya Pradesh, 37.89% in Punjab, 37% in Uttar Pradesh, 49.79% in West Bengal, 52.89% in Jharkhand, and 37.50% in Chandigarh, as per data on Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app.

1:49 pm IST

On final voting day, Rahul Gandhi tweets video message for ‘all mothers, sisters’

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday ‘saluted’ women for playing a key role in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections as candidates as well as for turning up in large numbers to vote.

“Today is the 7th and last phase of polling. Our mothers and sisters have played a key role in these elections, not just as candidates, but also as committed voters whose voices must be heard. I salute them all,” Gandhi tweeted.

1:25 pm IST

World’s highest polling station with 49 voters records 53% voting in 2 hours

The world’s highest polling station at 15,256 feet, Tashiganag village in Himachal Pradesh, Sunday took little than two hours to climb up to 53 per cent voting, a state electoral officer said. There are total 49 registered voters in Tashigang polling station in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district, State’s Assistant Chief Electoral Officer Harbans Lal Dhiman said.

The polling began at 7 am when the temperature was below freezing point. Voters came to the polling station wearing their traditional attire to beat the chilly weather.

It recorded voter turnout of 53 per cent till 9 am, he said.

1:20 pm IST

At 1 pm, 31% voter turnout in Phase 7

The overall voter turnout in Phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections 2019 stood at 30.94% at 1 pm .

The poll percentage was 22.87% in Bihar, 29.19% in Himachal Pradesh, 32.87% in Madhya Pradesh, 30.53% in Punjab, 28.36% in Uttar Pradesh, 37.76% in West Bengal, 47.65% in Jharkhand, and 22.30% in Chandigarh, as per data on Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app.

1:07 pm IST

SP, BJP workers clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli

There were reports of clash between SP and BJP workers in Parashurampur of Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli.

1:04 pm IST

Indelible ink was forcibly applied on our fingers, allege UP voters

After a group of five locals in Jeevanpur village of Chandauli Lok Sabha seat alleged that indelible ink was forcibly applied on their fingers and ₹500 each were given them, police have registered a case against seven persons.

12:58 pm IST

Tej Pratap Yadav’s security beats up man who allegedly broke car’s windscreen

Tej Pratap Yadav’s personal security guards in Patna beat a camera person after he allegedly broke the windscreen of Yadav’s car. Tej Pratap Yadav was leaving after casting his vote. Yadav has filed an FIR in the incident.

12:53 pm IST

Firing at Punjab poll booth

There were reports of firing outside a polling booth in Punjab’s Talwandi Sabo.

Later, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu was seen showing bullet casings used in firing outside the polling station.

12:45 pm IST

Congress leader alleges faking voting in Punjab’s Ferozepur

Angrej Singh, a Congress leader and Nambardar of village Ramewala in Ferozepur urban constituency claimed that when he objected to ‘fake voting’ by Akali leaders of the village, he was attacked with sharp weapons by three dozen Akali Dal supporters while his Sedan was also damaged.

Injured was hospitalised at local civil hospital.

12:40 pm IST

Bridegroom, family cast vote in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali

A bridegroom along with his family cast his vote at polling booth number 8 in Manali parliamentary constituency in Himachal Pradesh.

12:13 pm IST

Bike-born goons vandalised car in front of cops: BJP candidate in Bengal

BJP candidate Nilanjan Roy in Diamond Harbour constituency alleged that his car was vandalised in front of police in Budge Budge area.

“Bike-borne goons came and vandalised by car. We have informed the EC and police super about the incident. The EC has failed to utilise the police and security forces. The poll panel has become a mute spectator. I had told the police that trouble would take place here on polling day,” said Roy.

12:10 pm IST

EC seeks report of poll rigging in Bengal

The EC sought a report on two alleged incidents at booth number 219 in Baduria under Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency about the votes of two persons being cast by someone else.

12:06 pm IST

Crude bombs hurled in Kolkata streets

Crude bombs were hurled on the streets in Rabindra Sarani in north Kolkata. A few motorbike-borne criminals hurled the bombs around 11:30 am.

11:47 am IST

BJP supporters block road in Bengal

BJP supporters blocked a road alleging that TMC workers obstructed them from voting in Malancha that is under Basirhat constituency.

11:46 am IST

TV channels show booth president of TMC ‘helping’ voters Jadavpur

TV channels showed a booth president of the TMC “helping” voters in Baruipur under Jadavpur constituency by telling them which button to press.

The presiding officer defended his action saying that he was merely helping. The accused person said he was “only offering help to those who are asking for it and not asking everyone which button to press.”

A central force personnel stationed there said that he did not have the authority to enter the booth unless the presiding officer asked him to.

11:43 am IST

BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya casts vote

BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya posted this photo on his Twitter handle after casting his vote along with his wife in Indore.

11:37 am IST

Women TMC workers with covered faces are casting proxy votes: BJP

“Women TMC workers with covered faces are casting proxy votes, it is difficult to establish their identity. When we raised objection to it, they created a ruckus at the polling station,” alleged BJP MP candidate Anupam Hazra at polling booth number 150/137 in West Bengal’s Jadavpur.

11:35 am IST

Murli Manohar Joshi casts vote

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi cast his vote in Varanasi.

11:30 am IST

At 11 am, 17% voter turnout in Phase 7 of voting

The overall voter turnout in Phase 7 of Lok Sabha elections 2019 stood at 11.61% at 9 am .

The poll percentage was 17.94% in Bihar, 15.66% in Himachal Pradesh, 16.56% in Madhya Pradesh, 15.70% in Punjab, 14.43% in Uttar Pradesh, 21.11% in West Bengal, 23.86% in Jharkhand, and 10.40% in Chandigarh, as per data on Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app.

11:23 am IST

Additional forces arrive at Bengal poll booth

Additional forces arrived at polling station number 189 in West Bengal’s Basirhat. BJP MP candidate from Basirhat, Sayantan Basu has alleged that TMC workers are not allowing people to cast their vote.

11:16 am IST

Mohali man comes to vote with NOTA written on T-shirt

A man in Punjab’s Mohali arrived at a poll booth wearing a tricolour cap and a cardboard with NOTA written on it attached to his shirt.

11:10 am IST

Sumitra Mahajan casts vote

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan cast her vote at a polling booth in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore.

11:04 am IST

Voters click selfies outside poll booths

10:55 am IST

Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s daughter among first-time voters

Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s daughter Gurlin Kaur was among the first-time voters. She was seen with a certificate of appreciation before polling her vote in Punjab’s Badal village on Sunday.

10:42 am IST

Voters hold protest outside polling station in Bengal

Voters hold protest outside polling station number 189 in Basirhat, allege that TMC workers are not allowing them to cast their vote. BJP MP candidate from Basirhat, Sayantan Basu says, “100 people were stopped from voting. We will take them to cast their vote.” 

10:32 am IST

Himachal Pradesh BJP leaders in queue outside polling booth

Himachal Pradesh: BJP MP Anurag Thakur and BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal wait in queue outside a polling booth in Hamirpur, to cast their votes.  

10:25am IST

Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur casts his vote at polling station

Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur casts his vote at polling station number 36 in Mandi district. 

10:20 am IST

Trinamool Congress writes to EC

Trinamool Congress writes to EC, states, ‘Election campaign for last phase of polling for Lok Sabha polls is over, surprisingly Narendra Modi’s Kedarnath Yatra is being widely covered by the media for the last 2 days. This is a gross violation of model code of conduct.’ : Reports by ANI

10:17 am IST

BJP alleges poll rigging by TMC in Bengal

“People have queued up from as early as 4:30 AM to vote. But there are a lot of allegations of muscle flexing and rigging in areas such as Sandeshkhali, Hingalganj and Baduria. The inspector-in-charge of Shashan police station is virtually helping rigging in favour of the TMC. About 150 complaints were lodged with the EC in the first three hours. I have not seen effective steps of the poll panel so far,” alleged Sayantan Basu, BJP candidate of Basirhat constituency in Bengal.

Basu is also the general secretary of the Bengal unit of the BJP.

10:15 am IST

At 10 am, 12% voter turnout

The overall voter turnout at 9 am stood at 11.61%.

The poll percentage was 10.65% in Bihar, 11.44% in Himachal Pradesh, 13.19% in Madhya Pradesh, 10.01% in Punjab, 10.35% in Uttar Pradesh, 14.33% in West Bengal, 15% in Jharkhand, and 10.40% in Chandigarh, as per data on Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app.

9:50 am IST

Central forces didn’t let me enter poll booth: TMC’s Mala Roy

Mala Roy, TMC candidate from Kolkata South constituency, alleged that central force personnel did not allow her to enter booth number 72 in a polling station in Mudiali (under her constituency), where she went after learning that polling was stopped for 45 mins.

Roy said she will lodge a complaint with the EC.

9:49 am IST

‘Hundreds of EVMs found dysfunctional’: TMC’s Sukhendu Sekhar

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray wrote on social media, “Hundreds of EVMs found to be dysfunctional from the very start of poll in various booths of the 9 Parliamentary Constituencies Of West Bengal where elections are being held today. ₹3,173 crores sanctioned by the Government in April 2017 for purchase of 16 Lakh new EVMs. It seems that old and junk machines have been put on service in these 9 constituencies with the evil design to delay the process of voting.”

“Because if the voters after waiting for hours together fail to cast their votes will leave the polling stations in disgust, which will affect percentage of polling severely. Shame Election Commission,” Ray added on FB.

9:43 am IST

Clashes between Congress, BJP supporters in MP

Clashes between Congress and BJP supporters were reported in Madhya Pradesh’s Umarkot, Petlawad in the Jhabua Ratlam seat. Police had to use force to control the situation.

9:40 am IST

At 9 am, 6% voter turnout in Phase 7

The overall voter turnout at 9 am stood at 5.97%.

The poll percentage was 10.65% in Bihar, 0.40 in Himachal Pradesh, 4.57% in Madhya Pradesh, 2.94% in Punjab, 4,80% in Uttar Pradesh, 8.91% in West Bengal, 11.05% in Jharkhand, and 10.40% in Chandigarh, as per data on Election Commission’s Voter Turnout app.

9:20 am IST

Seers from Gorakhnath temple cast vote

Yogi Kamalnath, the officiating chief priests of Gorakhnath temple cast his vote with others seers of temple.

9:09 am IST

Voters in Bhangar allege intimidation by TMC strongmen

In Bhangar under West Bengal’s Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency in Bengal, a section of voters alleged intimidation by TMC strongmen on Saturday night, who warned them not to venture to the polling station in the morning. But policemen went to the villages in Uttar Gazipur and encouraged them to vote.

However, former TMC MLA Arabul Islam rejected the allegation saying the allegations were false.

9:05 am IST

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad casts vote

Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad arrived in Bihar’s Patna to cast his vote at booth no. 77 in Patna Women’s College.

8:24 am IST

TMC candidate Abhishek Banerjee casts vote

CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and TMC leader, Abhishek Banerjee casts his vote at polling booth no. 208 in South Kolkata Parliamentary Constituency.

“Whatever he (PM) said in meeting on 15 May in Diamond Harbour, he has to substantiate those statements with ample proof & justify what he said. If he fails to do so I’ll sue him in the criminal and defamation cases. I’ll drag him to the court & do the needful,” he said, reported by news agency.

8:22 am IST

BJP candidate from Kolkata North casts vote

BJP candidate from Kolkata North Rahul Sinha cast his vote at polling booth in West Bengal’s Jadavpur.

8:13 am IST

First-time voters in Punjab get certificate of appreciation

First-time voters in Punjab received certificate of appreciation after casting their vote.

First time voter Manmeet Kaur showing ink mark and voter Id card after casting vote outside the polling station during Seventh and last phase of Parliamentary polls in Amritsar ( Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo )

Anandita (R) Surbhi (C) and Kavita ( L) first time voter at a polling booth in Jalandhar. ( Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo )

8:07 am IST

EVM snag in Patna

EVM malfunction was reported at booth no.6 in Pant Nagar of Bihar’s Patna Sahib (Lok Sabha constituency), reported news agency ANI.

8:00 am IST

Harbhajan Singh queues up to cast vote

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh queued up to cast his vote at a polling booth in Jalandhar’s Garhi village in Punjab.

7:56 am IST

‘Elections should not be held over such a long duration’: Nitish Kumar

“Elections should not be held over such a long duration, there was a long gap between each phase of voting. I will write to leaders of all parties to build a consensus on this,” said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

7:50 am IST

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar casts his vote

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar cast his vote at polling booth number 326 at a school in Raj Bhawan, in Bihar’s Patna.

7:49 am IST

Bihar deputy CM Sushil Modi casts his vote

Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi cast his vote at booth number 49 in Bihar’s Patna.

7:34 am IST

All eyes on Varanasi, big test for SP-BSP alliance in east UP

Varanasi, the seat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will go to polls along with 12 other parliamentary seats on May 19, the last phase of the ongoing general elections. The state voted in all the seven phases of the month-long polls.

All 13 constituencies lie in the eastern region of the state. In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party and allies had won all these seats, including Gorakhpur, the home turf of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Varanasi looks largely predictable, but BJP cannot be sure of repeating its 2014 performance in the region.

7:22 am IST

PM Modi urges voters to turn up in record numbers

“Today is the final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. I urge all those voting in this phase to vote in record numbers. Your one vote will shape India’s development trajectory in the years to come. I also hope first time voters vote enthusiastically,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

7:16 am IST

Glad to see voters’ enthusiasm: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

“I’m glad about the enthusiasm with which the voters have participated in the electoral process.The entire election circled around PM Modi,” said UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath after casting his vote in Gorakhpur.

7:08 am IST

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath casts his vote

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath cast his vote at polling booth no. 246 in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur. He was accompanied by Bhojpuri actor and BJP candidate Ravi Kishan.

7:05 am IST

Vote in favour of development, tweets Amit Shah

7:00 am IST

Voting begins

Voting on 59 seats across 8 states begins. According to Election Commission of India (ECI), over 10.01 lakh voters will decide the fate of 918 candidates. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

6:55 am IST

Voting across 8 states to begin shortly

In the last phase of polling, 13 seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, all four constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and one seat in the Union Territory of Chandigarh will witness the polling.

6:50 am IST

Voters queue outside polling booths

People have begun queuing up outside polling stations in Jharkhand’s Dumka Lok Sabha constituency, to cast their votes. Voting for the 7th and last phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 will begin at 7 am today.

6:30 am IST

Battle for India enters the final lap

The seven-phase poll process for electing the 17th Lok Sabha will come to an end with voting in 59 parliamentary constituencies (PCs) on Sunday. More than two months of official campaigning for the 2019 general elections ended on Friday. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had announced the schedule on March 10.

6:10 am IST

Voting for the last phase of elections to begin shortly

Voting on 59 seats in phase 7 to begin shortly