61% voter turnout recorded in phase 7 of Lok Sabha polls: Election Commission

The polling for the last leg of the seven-phased Lok Sabha polls ended on Sunday. According to the Election Commission, 61 per cent voter turnout was recorded in phase 7 of general polls. 

Voter turnout in Bihar was recorded at 49.92 per cent, Himachal Pradesh 66.18 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 69.38 per cent, Punjab 58.81 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 54.37 per cent, West Bengal 73.05 per cent, Jharkhand 70.5 per cent, Chandigarh 63.57 per cent.

Large scale violence was reported from different parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal on the final phase of elections. The state witnessed clashes on Sunday too with Trinamool and BJP blaming each other for the violence.

While vehicles of few leaders were vandalised in poll-related violence, BJP has also accused TMC of beating its office-bearers.

Elections for the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls were held in all parliamentary constituencies of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh along with the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Polls were also scheduled in some constituencies of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to be re-elected, was one of the key seats of Phase 7. PM Modi was among the 918 candidates whose fate was decided in the final phase of polling today.

Around 7.27 crore voters took part in the final phase of elections. Out of this around 3.47 crore were women and 3,377 were persons of third gender, the Election Commission stated.

(With inputs from agencies)