As it happened: Seventh phase polling of Lok Sabha elections 2019
Voters show ink-marked finger after casting their vote in a polling booth on the final phase Lok Sabha election in Kolkata on Sunday. Photograph: (ANI)
<p>Over 10.1 crore voters will decide the fate of 918 candidates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They will cast their ballot at over 1.12 lakh polling stations.<br /><br /> Polling will take place on remaining eight constituencies of Bihar, three of Jharkhand, eight of Madhya Pradesh, 13 of Uttar Pradesh, nine of West Bengal and all the four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 of Punjab and the lone seat of Chandigarh.</p>Key Updates
19 May 2019, 5:15 PM (IST)
West Bengal: BJP alleges violent incidents
BJP writes to Chief Electoral Officer West Bengal, alleging violent incidents in 9 parliamentary constituencies of the state. Letter states, "We have filed 417 complaints to ECI, out of which 227 were resolved, a whooping number of 190 complaints are unresolved".
19 May 2019, 4:27 PM (IST)
Spurts of violence in Uttar Pradesh
Violence erupted in Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh where state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Mahendra Nath Pandey is seeking re-election, when supporters of the saffron party and the Samajwadi Party clashed.
A report from Chandauli said the fingers of Dalits had been inked before they could actually cast their vote in Tara Jivanpur village under Alinagar police station.
Two election officials deputed at different polling booths in Gorakhpur and Bansgaon constituencies died of sudden illness, officials said.
Polling is underway in Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Robertsganj (SC).
Union minister Manoj Sinha is seeking re-election from Ghazipur.
19 May 2019, 3:59 PM (IST)
19 May 2019, 3:23 PM (IST)
West Bengal: TMC alleges interference by central forces
The Trinamool Congress Sunday alleged that the central forces were "brutally torturing" and "intimidating" voters in West Bengal and acting as per orders of BJP leaders.
In a statement, Trinamool Congress lawmaker Derek O' Brien said, Bengal wants peaceful polling, which BJP doesn't.
19 May 2019, 2:24 PM (IST)
Villagers boycott polls, smash EVM in Nalanda
Shouting "no road, no vote", a group of villagers in Bihar`s Nalanda district on Sunday boycotted polling and smashed an electronic voting machine (EVM).
They also damaged the vehicle of a block development officer (BDO).
The group was protesting against alleged lack of proper road connectivity and development.
Meanwhile, a scuffle ensued between two groups after someone went ahead and cast his ballot at booth number 299 in Chandora village of Rajgir block of Nalanda district. Security personnel posted at the polling station were also chased away by the group of protesting villagers
19 May 2019, 1:53 PM (IST)
Video: Tej Pratap Yadav's personal security guards beat up a journalist in Patna
Speaking to media Lalu Prasad Yadav’s elder son said, “My bouncers have not done anything. I was leaving after casting my vote when a photographer hit the windscreen of my car. I have filed an FIR in the incident. A conspiracy is being hatched to kill me.”
19 May 2019, 7:03 (IST)
Voting begins in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
Key contestants: Narendra Modi (BJP), Ajay Rai (Congress) and Shalini Yadav (SP)
Main factors and issues: Modi is banking on his development agenda, not only in Varanasi but across the country, as also on his image as a strong leader. The BJP left no stone unturned to ensure a big victory for him, something which Modi had achieved in 2014 when he defeated Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by over 3.7 lakh votes.
19 May 2019, 6:34 (IST)
All parliamentary constituencies in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, along with the Union Territory of Chandigarh, will vote in the final phase of the polls.
In Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, voting will take place in a few Lok Sabha constituencies. The Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to be re-elected, is one of the key seats that will vote in Phase 7.
19 May 2019, 6:10 (IST)
PM Modi among 918 candidates
PM Modi among 918 candidates whose fate to be decided in the final phase of polling today
The fate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with 917 other candidates will be decided today, the last phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha polls.
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.