The Election Commission has registered 61 per cent polling in the final and seventh phase of elections to the 17th Lok Sabha. Altogether, in seven phases, the country saw a polling of 67.34 percentage, which is 1.21 per cent higher than the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
On Sunday, voters of 59 constituencies in States such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chandigarh and Bihar voted to elect their MPs from 918 candidates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Varanasi constituency registered about 55.52 percentage of voting till 6 pm on Sunday. Violence and EVM problems were reported from West Bengal and Punjab.
Briefing reporters after the process, the officials said 55.52 per cent voting was recorded in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh. In 2014, it was 54.96.
The officials said violence was reported in Chandauli, where Dalit voters complained that their fingers were marked with ink before they could cast their votes.
Violent incidents were also reported from West Bengal. Till 4 pm on Sunday, 65.59 per cent of people cast their votes. In 2014, the polling percentage of the nine constituencies was 79.15.
In Punjab, voting took place for all 13 Lok Sabha seats, along with the lone seat in Chandigarh. 63.57 per cent turnout was registered in Chandigarh, while Punjab registered about 59 per cent turnout.
In Himachal Pradesh, the turnout was 66.70 per cent till 5 pm. In Madhya Pradesh, 69.36 per cent voter turnout was registered in eight Lok Sabha seats. Bihar witnessed a turnout of 53.36 per cent. In Jharkhand, the polling percentage was 70.97 per cent in three Lok Sabha seats. Over 10.01 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in the seventh phase. 1.12 lakh polling stations were arranged by the poll panel in the 59 seats.
The Election Commission said it confiscated cash, liquor, jewels, drugs and gold worth ₹3,449.12 crore after the election process started. In 2014, the EC seized goods were valued at ₹1,206 crore.