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.&nbsp;

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.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-polls-2019-violence-mar-polls-in-west-bengal-bjp-and-cpi-accuse-trinamool-congress-of-creating-ruckus-219853">Large scale violence</a> 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&nbsp;were held in all parliamentary constituencies of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh along with the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Polls&nbsp;were also scheduled&nbsp;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) 
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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.

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)

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

Incidents of violence in West Bengal and clashes in Punjab were reported during the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, with 60.21&nbsp;polling percentage being recorded till 6&nbsp;pm in 59 seats.

The last phase of Lok Sabha elections, which will decide the fate of 918 candidates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also saw EVM glitches and poll boycott at some booths.

Voting was held&nbsp;in all 13 seats of Punjab and an equal number of seats in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, four in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and the lone seat Chandigarh.

According to the Election Commission app, in Uttar Pradesh, 54.31&nbsp;per cent voting was recorded till 6&nbsp;pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats, officials said.

The turnout in Varanasi was 46.53 per cent, while in Gorakhpur, it was 48.17 per cent. The highest turnout was 53.30 per cent in Deoria, while Ballia reported the lowest turnout of 42.51 per cent, the Election Commission said.&nbsp;

Violence erupted in Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency, where state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Mahendra Nath Pandey is seeking re-election, when supporters of the saffron party and the Samajwadi Party clashed. The situation was later brought under control.

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. Officials said an FIR was registered in the matter.

Incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal where 73.07&nbsp;per cent of over 1.49 crore electorate exercised their franchise till 6&nbsp;pm in nine Lok Sabha seats.

According to BJP's North Kolkata candidate Rahul Sinha, a crude bomb was hurled near Girish Park in the constituency around noon. Police, however, said crackers were burst in the area, and polling was underway peacefully.

In Kolkata south, TMC candidate Mala Roy alleged that she was stopped from entering polling booths.

Sporadic clashes were reported in Kolkata and its surrounding areas, with TMC workers claiming that voters were being intimidated by central forces outside booths.

BJP candidate Nilanjan Roy in Diamond Harbour constituency alleged that his car was vandalised in Budge Budge area. Similar reports also came in from Jadavpur constituency, where BJP candidate Anupam Hazra's car came under the attack of unidentified men.

"Polling has by and large been peaceful in the nine seats. There have been no complaints of any violence from any of the polling booths," an election official told PTI.

"There were also reports of EVM glitches in several polling stations. We have sent reserve EVMs to booths, where the voting process was temporarily hampered due to technical glitches," he added.

Punjab saw a polling percentage of 58.81 per&nbsp;cent till 6&nbsp;pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats. More than 50 per cent turnout was registered in lone Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, EC app stated.&nbsp;Maximum polling percentage was witnessed at 62.67 in Sangrur and the lowest was in Hoshiarpur at 49.11.

In the morning, there were some reports of technical glitches in EVMs at several places including Ludhiana, Samana and Moga. Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said eight ballot units, 13 control units, and eight voter-verified paper audit trail have been replaced.&nbsp;

There were also reports of clashes between Congress and Akali-BJP workers in Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and Gurdaspur. At Talwandi Sabo, Akalis alleged that shots were also fired by ruling party workers.

In Himachal Pradesh, 66.18&nbsp;per cent turnout was recorded till 5 pm in four Lok Sabha seats where five MLAs, including a state minister, are among the 45 candidates in the fray.

EVM snags delayed voting at nine polling stations. Voting restarted after the nine faulty EVMs were replaced, a state election officer said.

A turnout of 132 per cent has been recorded in the world's highest polling station in Lahaul and Spiti district's Tashigang village, a district official said.

In Madhya Pradesh, 69.38&nbsp;per cent voter turnout was recorded till 6&nbsp;pm in eight Lok Sabha seats.

However, voters listed at a booth in Agar Malwa district falling under the Dewas seat and five booths in Mandsaur seat boycotted the polling over their demands. Efforts were on to persuade voters to exercise their democratic right, an official said.

The official said around 12 people cast their votes at the polling booth in Dewas after being persuaded by election officials there.

Bihar witnessed 49.92&nbsp;per cent voting till 6&nbsp;pm in eight Lok Sabha seats.

An election official said, "Going by reports that reached us from district headquarters, we have found out that the voting process was temporarily hampered at few polling stations in Ara, Sasaram, Jehanabad, Pataliputr and Buxar. Officials have attended to the complaints and redressed all grievances," he said.

In neighbouring Jharkhand, an estimated 70.05&nbsp;per cent of the total 45,64,681 voters exercised their franchise in three Lok Sabha seats.

In the last phase of Lok Sabha polls, over 10.01 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. The Election Commission has set up more than 1.12 lakh polling stations and has deployed security personnel for smooth conduct of polls.

An average of 66.88 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the last six phases. The whole elections were spread over 38 days. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 23.

Incidents of violence in West Bengal and clashes in Punjab were reported during the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, with 60.21 polling percentage being recorded till 6 pm in 59 seats.

Incidents of violence in West Bengal and clashes in Punjab were reported during the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, with 60.21 polling percentage being recorded till 6 pm in 59 seats. The last phase of Lok Sabha elections, which will decide the fate of 918 candidates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also saw EVM glitches and poll boycott at some booths. Voting was held in all 13 seats of Punjab and an equal number of seats in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, four in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and the lone seat Chandigarh. According to the Election Commission app, in Uttar Pradesh, 54.31 per cent voting was recorded till 6 pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats, officials said. The turnout in Varanasi was 46.53 per cent, while in Gorakhpur, it was 48.17 per cent. The highest turnout was 53.30 per cent in Deoria, while Ballia reported the lowest turnout of 42.51 per cent, the Election Commission said. Violence erupted in Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency, where state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Mahendra Nath Pandey is seeking re-election, when supporters of the saffron party and the Samajwadi Party clashed. The situation was later brought under control. 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. Officials said an FIR was registered in the matter. Incidents of violence were reported in West Bengal where 73.07 per cent of over 1.49 crore electorate exercised their franchise till 6 pm in nine Lok Sabha seats. According to BJP's North Kolkata candidate Rahul Sinha, a crude bomb was hurled near Girish Park in the constituency around noon. Police, however, said crackers were burst in the area, and polling was underway peacefully. In Kolkata south, TMC candidate Mala Roy alleged that she was stopped from entering polling booths. Sporadic clashes were reported in Kolkata and its surrounding areas, with TMC workers claiming that voters were being intimidated by central forces outside booths. BJP candidate Nilanjan Roy in Diamond Harbour constituency alleged that his car was vandalised in Budge Budge area. Similar reports also came in from Jadavpur constituency, where BJP candidate Anupam Hazra's car came under the attack of unidentified men. "Polling has by and large been peaceful in the nine seats. There have been no complaints of any violence from any of the polling booths," an election official told PTI. "There were also reports of EVM glitches in several polling stations. We have sent reserve EVMs to booths, where the voting process was temporarily hampered due to technical glitches," he added. Punjab saw a polling percentage of 58.81 per cent till 6 pm in 13 Lok Sabha seats. More than 50 per cent turnout was registered in lone Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, EC app stated. Maximum polling percentage was witnessed at 62.67 in Sangrur and the lowest was in Hoshiarpur at 49.11. In the morning, there were some reports of technical glitches in EVMs at several places including Ludhiana, Samana and Moga. Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said eight ballot units, 13 control units, and eight voter-verified paper audit trail have been replaced. There were also reports of clashes between Congress and Akali-BJP workers in Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda and Gurdaspur. At Talwandi Sabo, Akalis alleged that shots were also fired by ruling party workers. In Himachal Pradesh, 66.18 per cent turnout was recorded till 5 pm in four Lok Sabha seats where five MLAs, including a state minister, are among the 45 candidates in the fray. EVM snags delayed voting at nine polling stations. Voting restarted after the nine faulty EVMs were replaced, a state election officer said. A turnout of 132 per cent has been recorded in the world's highest polling station in Lahaul and Spiti district's Tashigang village, a district official said. In Madhya Pradesh, 69.38 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 6 pm in eight Lok Sabha seats. However, voters listed at a booth in Agar Malwa district falling under the Dewas seat and five booths in Mandsaur seat boycotted the polling over their demands. Efforts were on to persuade voters to exercise their democratic right, an official said. The official said around 12 people cast their votes at the polling booth in Dewas after being persuaded by election officials there. Bihar witnessed 49.92 per cent voting till 6 pm in eight Lok Sabha seats. An election official said, "Going by reports that reached us from district headquarters, we have found out that the voting process was temporarily hampered at few polling stations in Ara, Sasaram, Jehanabad, Pataliputr and Buxar. Officials have attended to the complaints and redressed all grievances," he said. In neighbouring Jharkhand, an estimated 70.05 per cent of the total 45,64,681 voters exercised their franchise in three Lok Sabha seats. In the last phase of Lok Sabha polls, over 10.01 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. The Election Commission has set up more than 1.12 lakh polling stations and has deployed security personnel for smooth conduct of polls. An average of 66.88 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the last six phases. The whole elections were spread over 38 days. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 23.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Violence in Bengal, clashes in Punjab reported

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/lok-sabha-polls-2019-nationalist-congress-party-supremo-sharad-pawar-meets-n-chandrababu-naidu-in-delhi-219863">Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu</a> in Delhi on Sunday.

The meeting is seen as an effort towards forming an alternative government at the Centre if the BJP does not get enough numbers to retain power.

Naidu on Saturday held <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/tdp-chief-naidu-meets-rahul-discusses-firming-up-anti-bjp-front-219558">discussions with parties opposed to the BJP</a>. He met leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in Lucknow.

Naidu also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI leader Sudhakar Reddy, and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav.

He had flown to Lucknow for meeting the grand alliance leaders.

Last night, he had met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. None of the leaders, including Naidu, spoke to the media after the meetings.

However, in a television interview, the TDP chief expressed confidence that the BJP would fall short of a majority and would be unable to form the government.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi on Sunday.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi on Sunday. The meeting is seen as an effort towards forming an alternative government at the Centre if the BJP does not get enough numbers to retain power. Naidu on Saturday held discussions with parties opposed to the BJP. He met leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in Lucknow. Naidu also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI leader Sudhakar Reddy, and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav. He had flown to Lucknow for meeting the grand alliance leaders. Last night, he had met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. None of the leaders, including Naidu, spoke to the media after the meetings. However, in a television interview, the TDP chief expressed confidence that the BJP would fall short of a majority and would be unable to form the government.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Sitaram Yechury meets Rahul, Naidu; discusses post-poll scenario

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.

Shortly after the incident, the district administration rushed in additional forces to bring the situation under control.

Voting is underway for eight seats in Bihar in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha election.

The counting of votes is scheduled for May 23.

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).

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. Shortly after the incident, the district administration rushed in additional forces to bring the situation under control. Voting is underway for eight seats in Bihar in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha election. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 23.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Villagers boycott polls, smash EVM in Bihar's Nalanda

The voters of a village on the Sino-India border in Himachal Pradesh have boycotted the Lok Sabha poll as the government "failed" to find a permanent solution to frequent floods they face.

Located at an altitude of 10,000 feet and around 350 km from state capital Shimla, voters at Geu village in Lahaul and Spiti district said they had been demanding their resettlement but their demands remained unheard.

"We have to take the decision as none of the governments have found a permanent solution to frequent floods due to a nearby nullah," a villager said.

According to the district election office, there are 167 voters registered at the village and none of them have voted so far.

The district officials and election staff is in the village to persuade them to withdraw the boycott and exercise their franchise.

Only five votes have been cast at the Geu polling station, that too were cast by the poll staff, a district spokesperson said.

The five members of the poll staff do not belong to the village but they cast their votes on the basis of election duty certificates issued to them by AROs concerned, he added.

The voters of a village on the Sino-India border in Himachal Pradesh have boycotted the Lok Sabha poll as the government "failed" to find a permanent solution to frequent floods they face.

The voters of a village on the Sino-India border in Himachal Pradesh have boycotted the Lok Sabha poll as the government "failed" to find a permanent solution to frequent floods they face. Located at an altitude of 10,000 feet and around 350 km from state capital Shimla, voters at Geu village in Lahaul and Spiti district said they had been demanding their resettlement but their demands remained unheard. "We have to take the decision as none of the governments have found a permanent solution to frequent floods due to a nearby nullah," a villager said. According to the district election office, there are 167 voters registered at the village and none of them have voted so far. The district officials and election staff is in the village to persuade them to withdraw the boycott and exercise their franchise. Only five votes have been cast at the Geu polling station, that too were cast by the poll staff, a district spokesperson said. The five members of the poll staff do not belong to the village but they cast their votes on the basis of election duty certificates issued to them by AROs concerned, he added.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Villagers boycott voting in Himachal as government failed to find solution to frequent floods

Voter turnout recorded till 3 pm: Bihar- 36.20%, Himachal Pradesh- 45.38%, Madhya Pradesh- 46.51%, Punjab- 40.41%, Uttar Pradesh- 38.01%, West Bengal- 51.83%, Chandigarh- 37.50 and Jharkhand has recorded voter turnout of 55.88%. Watch this video to know more.

Voter turnout till 3 pm: Bihar- 36.20%, Madhya Pradesh- 46.51%, Uttar Pradesh- 38.01%

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar met Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/chandrababu-naidu-oppositions-trump-card-to-unite-anti-bjp-forces-179678">Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu</a> on Sunday in a bid to step up efforts to form a non-BJP regime in the post-poll scenario.

On being asked about the purpose of the meeting, Pawar did not disclose much apart from saying that it was a meeting to assess the 'elections in their respective states'.

"We just met and assessed the elections in our respective states. We are waiting for counting day to take further steps," said Pawar.

In view of the impending results, non-BJP party leaders have been meeting each other to discuss the post-poll scenarios.

On May 18, Naidu undertook a hectic round of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/tdp-chief-naidu-meets-rahul-discusses-firming-up-anti-bjp-front-219558">discussions with opposition leader</a> including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in Lucknow.

Naidu is on a mission of rallying opposition parties in a bid to keep the BJP out of power, in case its numbers fall short of majority considerably.

Sunday marks the end of the seven-phased Lok Sabha polls in the country. The counting of votes would take place on May 23.&nbsp;

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar met Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday in a bid to step up efforts to form a non-BJP regime in the post-poll scenario.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar met Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday in a bid to step up efforts to form a non-BJP regime in the post-poll scenario. On being asked about the purpose of the meeting, Pawar did not disclose much apart from saying that it was a meeting to assess the 'elections in their respective states'. "We just met and assessed the elections in our respective states. We are waiting for counting day to take further steps," said Pawar. In view of the impending results, non-BJP party leaders have been meeting each other to discuss the post-poll scenarios. On May 18, Naidu undertook a hectic round of discussions with opposition leader including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in Lucknow. Naidu is on a mission of rallying opposition parties in a bid to keep the BJP out of power, in case its numbers fall short of majority considerably. Sunday marks the end of the seven-phased Lok Sabha polls in the country. The counting of votes would take place on May 23.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: In a bid to firm anti-BJP front, Sharad Pawar meets Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi

With voting underway for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/live-lok-sabha-polls-2019-phase-7-voting-begins-in-chandigarh-and-7-states-219713">Seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections</a>, large scale violence is being reported from different parliamentary constituencies of the state.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-violence-mars-polling-at-raiganj-chopra-211421">West Bengal, witnessed clashes</a> on Sunday too with Trinamool and BJP blaming each other for violence.

While vehicles of few leaders were vandalised in poll-related violence, BJP has also accused TMC of beating its office-bearers.

BJP MP candidate from Jadavpur, Anupam Hazra told ANI that the Mandal president of his party was beaten by 'goons'&nbsp;of TMC.

"TMC goons have beaten up a BJP Mandal president, a driver and attacked a car. We also rescued our three polling agents. TMC goons were going to carry out rigging at 52 booths. People are eager to vote for BJP but they are not allowing people to vote", he said.

Earlier while visiting polling booth number 150/137 in Jadavpur, he had also objected to women covering their faces while voting and said, "Women TMC workers with covered faces are casting proxy votes, it is difficult to establish their identity. When we raised an objection to it, they created a ruckus at the polling station."

BJP candidate for Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, Nilanjan Roy`s car was also vandalised in Dongaria area of the constituency on Saturday.

Voters in Basirhat and Jadavpurhave alleged that TMC workers are disrupting the election process by not allowing them to vote.

A protest was held by voters outside booth number 189 in Basirhat.

"We are not being allowed to vote by TMC goons. We went to Police for complaining against them, but TMC supporters stopped us midway and started beating us," a protestor said.

BJP`s Lok Sabha candidate from Basirhat, Sayantan Basu was also present at the spot.

"100 people were stopped from voting. We will take them to cast their vote," he said.

Party's candidate from Basirhat also alleged of the poll process being hindered by TMC workers and demanded the additional presence of Central forces.

Similarly, in Jadavpur, there were disturbances in the polling process at booth number 150 and 137.

Discontent over the poll process was not limited to BJP but CPI also complaint of high-handedness by TMC workers.CPI candidate Pallab Sengupta on Sunday registered 142 complaints against TMC workers. In his complaint, he had asserted that TMC workers were pressurizing voters to vote for their party`s candidate.West Bengal voted across all the seven phases of national polls, today being the last one.

All the earlier phases have witnessed poll violence with TMC and BJP trading blame over the issue. Nine seats in the state are voting today.Sunday marks the end of the seven-phase polling in the country with a total of 59 parliamentary constituencies voting today.

The counting of votes would take place on May 23.

With voting underway for the Seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections, large scale violence is being reported from different parliamentary constituencies of the state.

With voting underway for the Seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections, large scale violence is being reported from different parliamentary constituencies of the state. West Bengal, witnessed clashes on Sunday too with Trinamool and BJP blaming each other for violence. While vehicles of few leaders were vandalised in poll-related violence, BJP has also accused TMC of beating its office-bearers. BJP MP candidate from Jadavpur, Anupam Hazra told ANI that the Mandal president of his party was beaten by 'goons' of TMC. "TMC goons have beaten up a BJP Mandal president, a driver and attacked a car. We also rescued our three polling agents. TMC goons were going to carry out rigging at 52 booths. People are eager to vote for BJP but they are not allowing people to vote", he said. Earlier while visiting polling booth number 150/137 in Jadavpur, he had also objected to women covering their faces while voting and said, "Women TMC workers with covered faces are casting proxy votes, it is difficult to establish their identity. When we raised an objection to it, they created a ruckus at the polling station." BJP candidate for Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, Nilanjan Roy`s car was also vandalised in Dongaria area of the constituency on Saturday. Voters in Basirhat and Jadavpurhave alleged that TMC workers are disrupting the election process by not allowing them to vote. A protest was held by voters outside booth number 189 in Basirhat. "We are not being allowed to vote by TMC goons. We went to Police for complaining against them, but TMC supporters stopped us midway and started beating us," a protestor said. BJP`s Lok Sabha candidate from Basirhat, Sayantan Basu was also present at the spot. "100 people were stopped from voting. We will take them to cast their vote," he said. Party's candidate from Basirhat also alleged of the poll process being hindered by TMC workers and demanded the additional presence of Central forces. Similarly, in Jadavpur, there were disturbances in the polling process at booth number 150 and 137. Discontent over the poll process was not limited to BJP but CPI also complaint of high-handedness by TMC workers.CPI candidate Pallab Sengupta on Sunday registered 142 complaints against TMC workers. In his complaint, he had asserted that TMC workers were pressurizing voters to vote for their party`s candidate.West Bengal voted across all the seven phases of national polls, today being the last one. All the earlier phases have witnessed poll violence with TMC and BJP trading blame over the issue. Nine seats in the state are voting today.Sunday marks the end of the seven-phase polling in the country with a total of 59 parliamentary constituencies voting today. The counting of votes would take place on May 23.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Violence mar polls in West Bengal; BJP and CPI accuse Trinamool Congress of creating ruckus

Voter turnout recorded till 10 am: Bihar-10.65%, Madhya Pradesh-13.17%, Punjab-9.84%, Uttar Pradesh-9.67%, West Bengal- 14.22% and Jharkhand has recorded voter turnout of 15%. Watch full video to know more.

Voter turnout till 10 am: Bihar-10.65%, Madhya Pradesh-13.17%, West Bengal- 14.22%

Dismissing BJP's assertion it will get more than 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda Saturday said no national party can form the government without the support of regional parties.

Gowda, a former prime minister, also expressed confidence his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would complete his five-year term.

Yesterday also he (BJP president Amit Shah just like that said they may get more than 300 seatsno; so will Congress come to power? both are national parties they (Congress) too have difficulty.

Without the cooperation of regional parties, no national party can administer, he said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, in the same way without (the support of) national parties no regional party can govern.

JDS, an ally of Congress in Karnataka, has already pledged its support to Congress President Rahul Gandhi in forming a government at the Centre.

Addressing a press conference Friday, Shah had said BJP will have enough seats to form a government on its own.

"We will get more than 300 seats. This election is to choose the country's Prime Minister. Narendra Modi will be the PM," he added.

Referring to doubts expressed over the longevity of the Kumaraswamy government, Gowda said such talks were on since his son became the Chief Minister last year and asserted the coalition government will remain in power and complete its term.

Rahul Gandhi and (UPA chairperson) Sonia Gandhi have decided they will support the coalition government under Kumaraswamys leadership for five years and even gave it in writing, he said, accusing the media of "creating confusion".

Congress and JDS forged a post-poll alliance to form the coalition government after the assembly elections threw up a hung verdict.

Dismissing BJP's assertion it will get more than 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda Saturday said no national party can form the government without the support of regional parties.

Dismissing BJP's assertion it will get more than 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda Saturday said no national party can form the government without the support of regional parties. Gowda, a former prime minister, also expressed confidence his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would complete his five-year term. Yesterday also he (BJP president Amit Shah just like that said they may get more than 300 seatsno; so will Congress come to power? both are national parties they (Congress) too have difficulty. Without the cooperation of regional parties, no national party can administer, he said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, in the same way without (the support of) national parties no regional party can govern. JDS, an ally of Congress in Karnataka, has already pledged its support to Congress President Rahul Gandhi in forming a government at the Centre. Addressing a press conference Friday, Shah had said BJP will have enough seats to form a government on its own. "We will get more than 300 seats. This election is to choose the country's Prime Minister. Narendra Modi will be the PM," he added. Referring to doubts expressed over the longevity of the Kumaraswamy government, Gowda said such talks were on since his son became the Chief Minister last year and asserted the coalition government will remain in power and complete its term. Rahul Gandhi and (UPA chairperson) Sonia Gandhi have decided they will support the coalition government under Kumaraswamys leadership for five years and even gave it in writing, he said, accusing the media of "creating confusion". Congress and JDS forged a post-poll alliance to form the coalition government after the assembly elections threw up a hung verdict.

Deve Gowda says no party can form government at Centre without support of regional players

The TMC wrote to the Election Commission Sunday alleging the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath is a violation of the model code of conduct.

"Even though the Election campaign for the last phase of polling for 2019 Lok Sabha is over as long as back on May 17 at 6 pm, surprisingly Narendra Modi's Kedarnath Yatra is being covered and widely televised for the last two days in all national as well as local media. This is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct," Trinamool Congress spokesperson Derek O'Brien said in the letter.

He said the prime minister even announced that the master plan for the Kedarnath Temple is ready and also addressed the public and the media at the temple town.

"it is absolutely unethical and morally incorrect."

"Every minute detail of his activities during the visit is being widely publicised with an ulterior motive to influence voters directly and/or indirectly."

"Modi Modi" chants are also being heard from the background," he said.

The TMC leader said all these moves were well calculated with the "ill intention to influence the voters" on the polling day.

It is unfortunate that the poll body has not taken any action against the PM, it added.

"Election Commission, the highest body and the eyes and ears of the democratic process, remains blind and deaf to the gross violation of the MCC. I would request you to take immediate action and stop telecast of such surreptitious and unfair campaign which is also morally wrong," he said.

Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Uttarakhand, reached Kedarnath on Saturday and is expected to be at Badrinath temple Sunday.

The TMC wrote to the Election Commission Sunday alleging the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath is a violation of the model code of conduct.

The TMC wrote to the Election Commission Sunday alleging the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath is a violation of the model code of conduct. "Even though the Election campaign for the last phase of polling for 2019 Lok Sabha is over as long as back on May 17 at 6 pm, surprisingly Narendra Modi's Kedarnath Yatra is being covered and widely televised for the last two days in all national as well as local media. This is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct," Trinamool Congress spokesperson Derek O'Brien said in the letter. He said the prime minister even announced that the master plan for the Kedarnath Temple is ready and also addressed the public and the media at the temple town. "it is absolutely unethical and morally incorrect." "Every minute detail of his activities during the visit is being widely publicised with an ulterior motive to influence voters directly and/or indirectly." "Modi Modi" chants are also being heard from the background," he said. The TMC leader said all these moves were well calculated with the "ill intention to influence the voters" on the polling day. It is unfortunate that the poll body has not taken any action against the PM, it added. "Election Commission, the highest body and the eyes and ears of the democratic process, remains blind and deaf to the gross violation of the MCC. I would request you to take immediate action and stop telecast of such surreptitious and unfair campaign which is also morally wrong," he said. Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Uttarakhand, reached Kedarnath on Saturday and is expected to be at Badrinath temple Sunday.

Trinamool complaints to poll panel, says PM Modi's visit to Kedarnath violates Model Code of Conduct

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav's personal security guards on Sunday&nbsp;beat a camera person after he allegedly broke the windscreen of Yadav's car.&nbsp;

Tej Pratap was leaving after casting his vote at Veterinary College in Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency.&nbsp;

Speaking to ANI 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.”

The former RJD leader has filed an FIR in the incident.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> 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. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bihar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bihar</a> <a href="https://t.co/u1KzKDCGBG">pic.twitter.com/u1KzKDCGBG</a>
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Meanwhile, voting is underway across fifty-nine seats in eight states in the final round of the Lok Sabha elections that began 38 days ago.

Fresh violence is being reported across West Bengal. Bombing incidents allegedly took place outside Basirhat polling booth, in Mathurapur village and in Islampur, where bypolls are underway. A BJP camp was also set to fire in Barasat. Meanwhile, in Basirhat, BJP alleged that 100 voters were barred from casting their votes.&nbsp;

EVM malfunction across Punjab and Bihar were reported. Reports of violent clashes between workers of various parties are coming in from Punjab, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, too.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav's personal security guards on Sunday beat a camera person after he allegedly broke the windscreen of Yadav's car. Tej Pratap was leaving after casting his vote at Veterinary College in Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav's personal security guards on Sunday beat a camera person after he allegedly broke the windscreen of Yadav's car. Tej Pratap was leaving after casting his vote at Veterinary College in Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency. Speaking to ANI 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.” The former RJD leader has filed an FIR in the incident. #WATCH 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. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/u1KzKDCGBG — ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2019 × Meanwhile, voting is underway across fifty-nine seats in eight states in the final round of the Lok Sabha elections that began 38 days ago. Fresh violence is being reported across West Bengal. Bombing incidents allegedly took place outside Basirhat polling booth, in Mathurapur village and in Islampur, where bypolls are underway. A BJP camp was also set to fire in Barasat. Meanwhile, in Basirhat, BJP alleged that 100 voters were barred from casting their votes. EVM malfunction across Punjab and Bihar were reported. Reports of violent clashes between workers of various parties are coming in from Punjab, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, too.

Video: Tej Pratap Yadav's personal security guards beat up a journalist in Patna

One of the biggest surprises of the 2019 elections will be BJP’s expanding footprints in the country, in areas considered out of bounds for the party thus far.&nbsp;

In the last two terms as party chief, Amit Shah has worked assiduously on a strategy to take the BJP to every nook and corner of the country, expanding its electoral base. The 2019 elections are going to be a test of the success Amit Shah has achieved.&nbsp;

Reports from across the country clearly suggest that the BJP has succeeded in taking major strides in south and east India, areas so far known as a non-BJP territory.&nbsp;

It is the outcome of a series of strategic advances taken by the party president in the last five years that has transformed the BJP into a relevant fighting force in Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Northeast states like Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal and Meghalaya.

The Northeast, including Assam, sends 25 MPs to the Lok Sabha and the BJP hopes to win up to 20 seats. In the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, a majority of the 14 Assam seats went to the BJP.&nbsp;

The party made a historic entry&nbsp;in Assam and Tripura by winning&nbsp;a two- thirds majority to form state&nbsp;governments.&nbsp;

In Arunachal Pradesh, the massive exodus from the Congress to the BJP, led to the formation of a BJP government in the state two years ago. Since then, the party has consolidated itself. As junior partner, BJP is part of the state governments in Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

The stunning victory of the party in Tripura in the 2017 assembly election, which ended three decades of CPM rule, created history, generating a groundswell of support for the BJP in the entire region.

Equally significant is the party’s gains in local bodies’ elections in West Bengal and Odisha in 2018 and 2017 respectively. The substantial gains have established it as the main challenger to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in Bengal and Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal in Orissa.&nbsp;

The BJP has also gained by attracting top-ranking leaders like Mukul Roy in West Bengal from Trinamool and Jay Panda from BJD in Odisha. A large number of middle rung and local leaders of these parties have migrated into the BJP fold in these states.&nbsp;

Amit Shah’s three dream projects, Maha Sadasyada Abhiyan, Maha Sampark Abhiyan and Prashikshan Mahabhiyan – membership, contact, and training the cadre – has generated the desired atmospherics for BJP to expand.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Trinamool Congress never expected organised opposition to its appeasement politics in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee built her political fortune by inducting erstwhile CPM goons, Bangladeshi infiltrators and the radicalised Madrasa gang.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The ‘Ma, Maati, Manush’ slogan in the initial stages of the Trinamool movement, generated great goodwill for the party in its bid to oust the three-decade-long Left Front misrule. Later, her politics slipped into the old CPM rut – money, muscle and Muslim clergy power.&nbsp;

By focussing on West Bengal for the last four years through meticulous planning, micro-management and strategy, the ground was being readied for the BJP’s emergence as a major contender. Amit Shah has made as many as two dozen trips to Bengal to organise and inspire the cadre in the last three years.

The BJP strategy in south India has varied from state to state. In Karnataka, the party always had a good base. It hopes to improve upon its tally of 18 in 2014. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP strategy was to cobble up a coalition of like-minded parties under the leadership of AIADMK. The coalition has worked well and is expected to put up a formidable challenge to the DMK front, winning half the seats in the state.&nbsp;

In Kerala, a combination of events has created favourable conditions for the BJP. The Sabarimala issue was mishandled by the Left Front government, proving a boon for the BJP. The party found its Ayodhya moment in the Sabarimala issue to penetrate the mass psyche.&nbsp;

It championed the believer’s cause effectively to transform itself into a party of the masses. The BJP president, by making a number of trips to Kerala and challenging Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's pro-atheist, anti-Hindu stand, has consolidated public sentiment in favour of the party.

The state BJP was clueless about its options till Amit Shah emerged on the scene, guiding the party to take an openly pro-devotee stand on the issue. His appeal electrified the cadre, making the BJP take to streets with a vengeance.&nbsp;

Over 50,000 cases were filed against BJP workers by the CPM government, but this has turned the tide against the CPM. It is this dip in the CPM support base that is likely to help BJP emerge as the new third force in Kerala.

Whether it makes electoral gains here or not, the party is a major political option for voters fed up with the alternative communal politics of the UDF and the LDF.

The BJP aims to gain as many as 80 seats in the new areas in 2019, so that any shortfall can be compensated. Thanks to Amit Shah’s vision, the BJP today is a pan-Indian force, not dependent only on the catchment areas to win seats.&nbsp;

These huge additions from the new areas, is bound to change politics for ever in India. Like the Congress of the 1960s, the BJP today is the party of power, in almost every state. And the credit for making it goes mainly to Amit Shah. Narendra Modi’s all India appeal and charisma has, of course, made the job easier.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-grand-amit-shah-outreach-2750515">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

One of the biggest surprises of the 2019 elections will be BJP’s expanding footprints in the country, in areas considered out of bounds for the party thus far. In the last two terms as party chief, Amit Shah has worked assiduously on a strategy to take the BJP to every nook and corner of the country, expanding its electoral base.

One of the biggest surprises of the 2019 elections will be BJP’s expanding footprints in the country, in areas considered out of bounds for the party thus far. In the last two terms as party chief, Amit Shah has worked assiduously on a strategy to take the BJP to every nook and corner of the country, expanding its electoral base. The 2019 elections are going to be a test of the success Amit Shah has achieved. Reports from across the country clearly suggest that the BJP has succeeded in taking major strides in south and east India, areas so far known as a non-BJP territory. It is the outcome of a series of strategic advances taken by the party president in the last five years that has transformed the BJP into a relevant fighting force in Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Northeast states like Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal and Meghalaya. The Northeast, including Assam, sends 25 MPs to the Lok Sabha and the BJP hopes to win up to 20 seats. In the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, a majority of the 14 Assam seats went to the BJP. The party made a historic entry in Assam and Tripura by winning a two- thirds majority to form state governments. In Arunachal Pradesh, the massive exodus from the Congress to the BJP, led to the formation of a BJP government in the state two years ago. Since then, the party has consolidated itself. As junior partner, BJP is part of the state governments in Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland. The stunning victory of the party in Tripura in the 2017 assembly election, which ended three decades of CPM rule, created history, generating a groundswell of support for the BJP in the entire region. Equally significant is the party’s gains in local bodies’ elections in West Bengal and Odisha in 2018 and 2017 respectively. The substantial gains have established it as the main challenger to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in Bengal and Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal in Orissa. The BJP has also gained by attracting top-ranking leaders like Mukul Roy in West Bengal from Trinamool and Jay Panda from BJD in Odisha. A large number of middle rung and local leaders of these parties have migrated into the BJP fold in these states. Amit Shah’s three dream projects, Maha Sadasyada Abhiyan, Maha Sampark Abhiyan and Prashikshan Mahabhiyan – membership, contact, and training the cadre – has generated the desired atmospherics for BJP to expand. The Trinamool Congress never expected organised opposition to its appeasement politics in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee built her political fortune by inducting erstwhile CPM goons, Bangladeshi infiltrators and the radicalised Madrasa gang. The ‘Ma, Maati, Manush’ slogan in the initial stages of the Trinamool movement, generated great goodwill for the party in its bid to oust the three-decade-long Left Front misrule. Later, her politics slipped into the old CPM rut – money, muscle and Muslim clergy power. By focussing on West Bengal for the last four years through meticulous planning, micro-management and strategy, the ground was being readied for the BJP’s emergence as a major contender. Amit Shah has made as many as two dozen trips to Bengal to organise and inspire the cadre in the last three years. The BJP strategy in south India has varied from state to state. In Karnataka, the party always had a good base. It hopes to improve upon its tally of 18 in 2014. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP strategy was to cobble up a coalition of like-minded parties under the leadership of AIADMK. The coalition has worked well and is expected to put up a formidable challenge to the DMK front, winning half the seats in the state. In Kerala, a combination of events has created favourable conditions for the BJP. The Sabarimala issue was mishandled by the Left Front government, proving a boon for the BJP. The party found its Ayodhya moment in the Sabarimala issue to penetrate the mass psyche. It championed the believer’s cause effectively to transform itself into a party of the masses. The BJP president, by making a number of trips to Kerala and challenging Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's pro-atheist, anti-Hindu stand, has consolidated public sentiment in favour of the party. The state BJP was clueless about its options till Amit Shah emerged on the scene, guiding the party to take an openly pro-devotee stand on the issue. His appeal electrified the cadre, making the BJP take to streets with a vengeance. Over 50,000 cases were filed against BJP workers by the CPM government, but this has turned the tide against the CPM. It is this dip in the CPM support base that is likely to help BJP emerge as the new third force in Kerala. Whether it makes electoral gains here or not, the party is a major political option for voters fed up with the alternative communal politics of the UDF and the LDF. The BJP aims to gain as many as 80 seats in the new areas in 2019, so that any shortfall can be compensated. Thanks to Amit Shah’s vision, the BJP today is a pan-Indian force, not dependent only on the catchment areas to win seats. These huge additions from the new areas, is bound to change politics for ever in India. Like the Congress of the 1960s, the BJP today is the party of power, in almost every state. And the credit for making it goes mainly to Amit Shah. Narendra Modi’s all India appeal and charisma has, of course, made the job easier. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Grand Amit Shah outreach

With India voting in the last leg of the Lok Sabha elections on Sunday, Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar was massively trolled after he made an appeal to voters of Bhopal to vote against BJP's Pragya Thakur.

Now, here's the catch - the parliamentary constituency has already voted in the sixth phase of polls on May 12 last Sunday, which means Farhan is a tad too late in his political appeal.

"Dear electorate of Bhopal, it's time for you to save your city from another full-of-gas tragedy. #SayNoToPragya #SayNoToGodse #RememberTheMahatma #ChooseLoveNotHate," the actor tweeted.

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Dear electorate of Bhopal, it’s time for you to save your city from another full-of-gas tragedy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SayNoToPragya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SayNoToPragya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SayNoToGodse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SayNoToGodse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RememberTheMahatma?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RememberTheMahatma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChooseLoveNotHate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChooseLoveNotHate</a>
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) <a href="https://twitter.com/FarOutAkhtar/status/1129947762496135169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Pragya Thakur had recently stoked controversy by terming Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi, a patriot. She was forced to dial down her statement and apologise for the remark after her party BJP expressed disagreement and distanced itself from the comment. Even Prime Minister Modi had stated he will never be able to forgive Thakur for what she said.

Hawk-eyed Twitter users couldn't have spared the actor for his faux pas.&nbsp;

They were not only quick in pointing out the delay but also slammed the actor for his reference to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the world's worst industrial disasters which claimed around 15,000 lives.

"Making fun of Gas tragedy and it's victims. #Shameless," wrote a user.

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Making fun of Gas tragedy and it's victims. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shameless?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shameless</a>
— Hitesh Gupta (@hiteshkgupta) <a href="https://twitter.com/hiteshkgupta/status/1129982152718688256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Change your internet connection. Your tweets are taking 10 days to be published," read another tweet.

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O Dhakkan, Elections were held on 12th in Bhopal. &amp; plz Change your internet connection. Your tweets are taking 10 days to be published 😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JitegiToPragyaDidiHi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JitegiToPragyaDidiHi</a> ✌
— Chowkidar Himanshu Wadhwa (@himanshuWadhwa0) <a href="https://twitter.com/himanshuWadhwa0/status/1130008516754731009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Another user wrote, "These guys are so cut off from reality."

Despite the flurry of replies and merciless trolling, the "Rock On!!" actor is yet to issue take down his tweet or issue a correction.

Four hours after he put up the post on the micro-blogging website, it had garnered over 1,600 retweets and 8,600 replies.

Farhan's parents, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, have been vocal critics of the BJP and policies of the Narendra Modi-led central government. The couple also promptly campaigned for Kanhaiya Kumar, the Communist Party candidate from Bihar's Begusarai.

With India voting in the last leg of the Lok Sabha elections on Sunday, Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar was massively trolled after he made an appeal to voters of Bhopal to vote against BJP's Pragya Thakur.

With India voting in the last leg of the Lok Sabha elections on Sunday, Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar was massively trolled after he made an appeal to voters of Bhopal to vote against BJP's Pragya Thakur. Now, here's the catch - the parliamentary constituency has already voted in the sixth phase of polls on May 12 last Sunday, which means Farhan is a tad too late in his political appeal. "Dear electorate of Bhopal, it's time for you to save your city from another full-of-gas tragedy. #SayNoToPragya #SayNoToGodse #RememberTheMahatma #ChooseLoveNotHate," the actor tweeted. Dear electorate of Bhopal, it’s time for you to save your city from another full-of-gas tragedy. #SayNoToPragya #SayNoToGodse #RememberTheMahatma #ChooseLoveNotHate — Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) May 19, 2019 × Pragya Thakur had recently stoked controversy by terming Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi, a patriot. She was forced to dial down her statement and apologise for the remark after her party BJP expressed disagreement and distanced itself from the comment. Even Prime Minister Modi had stated he will never be able to forgive Thakur for what she said. Hawk-eyed Twitter users couldn't have spared the actor for his faux pas. They were not only quick in pointing out the delay but also slammed the actor for his reference to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, one of the world's worst industrial disasters which claimed around 15,000 lives. "Making fun of Gas tragedy and it's victims. #Shameless," wrote a user. Making fun of Gas tragedy and it's victims. #Shameless — Hitesh Gupta (@hiteshkgupta) May 19, 2019 × "Change your internet connection. Your tweets are taking 10 days to be published," read another tweet. O Dhakkan, Elections were held on 12th in Bhopal. & plz Change your internet connection. Your tweets are taking 10 days to be published 😂#JitegiToPragyaDidiHi ✌ — Chowkidar Himanshu Wadhwa (@himanshuWadhwa0) May 19, 2019 × Another user wrote, "These guys are so cut off from reality." Despite the flurry of replies and merciless trolling, the "Rock On!!" actor is yet to issue take down his tweet or issue a correction. Four hours after he put up the post on the micro-blogging website, it had garnered over 1,600 retweets and 8,600 replies. Farhan's parents, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, have been vocal critics of the BJP and policies of the Narendra Modi-led central government. The couple also promptly campaigned for Kanhaiya Kumar, the Communist Party candidate from Bihar's Begusarai.

Farhan Akhtar urges Bhopal to vote against Pragya Thakur, week after elections, gets trolled

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday said Congress party and Janta Dal Secular (JDS) together will win 18 to 19 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Speaking to media after praying at Tirupati Balaji temple here, Kumaraswamy said, "We will win comfortably and there is nothing to worry about. In Karnataka with the combination of Congress party and the JDS, we will get 18 to 19 seats in the state."

Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats. Kumaraswamy was accompanied by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in the temple.

On being asked who will form the government at the Centre, the Karnataka chief minister said, "Let us wait till May 23 when the results will come out. We already committed to supporting Congress president Rahul Gandhi and&nbsp;there is no changes in our stand."

When asked about the drought in Tamil Nadu and he said, "The reason why I have come to Lord Venkateshwara temple is to seek blessings so that there are good rains this year also."

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday said Congress party and Janta Dal Secular (JDS) together will win 18 to 19 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Speaking to media after praying at Tirupati Balaji temple here, Kumaraswamy said, "We will win comfortably and there is nothing to worry about.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday said Congress party and Janta Dal Secular (JDS) together will win 18 to 19 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Speaking to media after praying at Tirupati Balaji temple here, Kumaraswamy said, "We will win comfortably and there is nothing to worry about. In Karnataka with the combination of Congress party and the JDS, we will get 18 to 19 seats in the state." Karnataka has a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats. Kumaraswamy was accompanied by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in the temple. On being asked who will form the government at the Centre, the Karnataka chief minister said, "Let us wait till May 23 when the results will come out. We already committed to supporting Congress president Rahul Gandhi and there is no changes in our stand." When asked about the drought in Tamil Nadu and he said, "The reason why I have come to Lord Venkateshwara temple is to seek blessings so that there are good rains this year also."

Congress, JDS will win 18-19 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka: HD Kumaraswamy

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/chandrababu-naidu-to-meet-rahul-gandhi-akhilesh-and-mayawati-on-saturday-219506">TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu </a>Saturday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and discussed firming up an anti-BJP front to keep the saffron party out of power after poll results are declared.

Before meeting the Congress chief, Naidu, who is spearheading an effort to cobble up an anti-BJP front, met CPI leaders Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja.&nbsp;

He is scheduled to meet NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and LJD leader Sharad Yadav in the national capital later in the day.

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister is also scheduled to meet BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow in the evening.

In an hour-long meeting with Gandhi, sources said, Naidu discussed the impending need to bring together all parties which are against the BJP after the Lok Sabha election results are declared on May 23.

Sources said Naidu also told Gandhi to have a strategy ready in case the BJP falls short of numbers and still stakes claim to form the government.

Naidu is also in touch with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee over the phone on this issue, the sources added.

On Friday, Naidu had said that not only the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) but any outfit which is against the saffron party are welcome to join a grand alliance after the election results are declared.

He had also met AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as well as CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on the matter.

The seven-phase polling will end on Sunday and the counting of votes will be done on May 23.

TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu Saturday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and discussed firming up an anti-BJP front to keep the saffron party out of power after poll results are declared.

TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu Saturday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and discussed firming up an anti-BJP front to keep the saffron party out of power after poll results are declared. Before meeting the Congress chief, Naidu, who is spearheading an effort to cobble up an anti-BJP front, met CPI leaders Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja. He is scheduled to meet NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and LJD leader Sharad Yadav in the national capital later in the day. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister is also scheduled to meet BSP chief Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow in the evening. In an hour-long meeting with Gandhi, sources said, Naidu discussed the impending need to bring together all parties which are against the BJP after the Lok Sabha election results are declared on May 23. Sources said Naidu also told Gandhi to have a strategy ready in case the BJP falls short of numbers and still stakes claim to form the government. Naidu is also in touch with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee over the phone on this issue, the sources added. On Friday, Naidu had said that not only the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) but any outfit which is against the saffron party are welcome to join a grand alliance after the election results are declared. He had also met AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as well as CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on the matter. The seven-phase polling will end on Sunday and the counting of votes will be done on May 23.

TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu meets Rahul Gandhi, discusses firming up anti-BJP front

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand today and offered prayers this morning. PM modi is on a 2-day visit to Uttarakhand. Watch full video to know more.

PM Narendra Modi on a two-day official visit to Kedarnath, Badrinath

Barely five days ahead of the results to country's general election, best-selling author Chetan Bhagat was in Chennai to launch his latest non-fiction work ‘India Positive’.

He addressed the gathering at the India Positive Conclave on Saturday which aimed to drive a conversation around positive political culture and constructive politics.&nbsp;

Bhagat’s latest book is a collection of short essays on contemporary political issues and examines a wide array of subjects such as education, GST (Goods and Services Tax), corruption and casteism.

Speaking at the book launch, the author highlighted the heightened political awareness and curiosity amongst the youth and netizens by taking the example of the recent Twitter poll where he found that over 84 per cent of the respondents believed that the election results on May 23 were more exciting or as exciting as the Cricket World Cup finale.&nbsp;

The author said that his book was written keeping in mind the attention span and the curiosity of the current generation. The book comprises a compilation of essays, each of which is two to three pages in length.&nbsp;

Adding a personal touch to this speech, Chetan referred to his wife’s Tamil origins and spoke about the humility of Tamil people. Referring to Tamil Nadu’s notable rate of growth and development, he said that Tamil culture did not encourage marketing, as they are good at performing. He also stated that there is no shame in marketing good work. He even hoped to see a Tamilian Prime Minister in the years to come.

Making a specific reference to the political scenario in the country, Bhagat said that 'India Positive' is not about who wins the elections and that the biggest problem is not one particular party. He highlighted the need to stop promoting hate against other religions and emphasized on the need to focus on issues such as infrastructure and pollution.&nbsp;

The conclave also featured a panel discussion by eminent politicians, entrepreneurs and public figures of Tamil Nadu, on the need and scope for positive politics for the benefit of the state and its population.&nbsp;

The discussion that was moderated by Actress Kasturi Shankar involved State Minister for Tamil language and Culture K Pandiarajan, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy, TN Congress committee working president Mohan Kumaramangalam, Ponraj of Abdul Kalam Vision India Party and entrepreneur CK Kumaravel.&nbsp;

While the panel discussion did occasionally witness verbal duels between the political opponents, there were also rare scenes of political courtesy and civility when the politicians credited the achievements and schemes of their respective opponents.&nbsp;

The discussion on 'India Positive' had the BJP spokesperson appreciating the Congress party for its RTI and 'Unique Identity' project and the Congress’ representative reciprocated by appreciating the BJP for its implementation of the GST.&nbsp;

The AIADMK minister also appreciated the efforts of the Congress and the DMK referring to the 100-days employment guarantee scheme and the DMK’s move to introduce reforms in education at the state level.

Barely five days ahead of the results to country's general election, best-selling author Chetan Bhagat was in Chennai to launch his latest non-fiction work ‘India Positive’.

Barely five days ahead of the results to country's general election, best-selling author Chetan Bhagat was in Chennai to launch his latest non-fiction work ‘India Positive’. He addressed the gathering at the India Positive Conclave on Saturday which aimed to drive a conversation around positive political culture and constructive politics. Bhagat’s latest book is a collection of short essays on contemporary political issues and examines a wide array of subjects such as education, GST (Goods and Services Tax), corruption and casteism. Speaking at the book launch, the author highlighted the heightened political awareness and curiosity amongst the youth and netizens by taking the example of the recent Twitter poll where he found that over 84 per cent of the respondents believed that the election results on May 23 were more exciting or as exciting as the Cricket World Cup finale. The author said that his book was written keeping in mind the attention span and the curiosity of the current generation. The book comprises a compilation of essays, each of which is two to three pages in length. Adding a personal touch to this speech, Chetan referred to his wife’s Tamil origins and spoke about the humility of Tamil people. Referring to Tamil Nadu’s notable rate of growth and development, he said that Tamil culture did not encourage marketing, as they are good at performing. He also stated that there is no shame in marketing good work. He even hoped to see a Tamilian Prime Minister in the years to come. Making a specific reference to the political scenario in the country, Bhagat said that 'India Positive' is not about who wins the elections and that the biggest problem is not one particular party. He highlighted the need to stop promoting hate against other religions and emphasized on the need to focus on issues such as infrastructure and pollution. The conclave also featured a panel discussion by eminent politicians, entrepreneurs and public figures of Tamil Nadu, on the need and scope for positive politics for the benefit of the state and its population. The discussion that was moderated by Actress Kasturi Shankar involved State Minister for Tamil language and Culture K Pandiarajan, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy, TN Congress committee working president Mohan Kumaramangalam, Ponraj of Abdul Kalam Vision India Party and entrepreneur CK Kumaravel. While the panel discussion did occasionally witness verbal duels between the political opponents, there were also rare scenes of political courtesy and civility when the politicians credited the achievements and schemes of their respective opponents. The discussion on 'India Positive' had the BJP spokesperson appreciating the Congress party for its RTI and 'Unique Identity' project and the Congress’ representative reciprocated by appreciating the BJP for its implementation of the GST. The AIADMK minister also appreciated the efforts of the Congress and the DMK referring to the 100-days employment guarantee scheme and the DMK’s move to introduce reforms in education at the state level.

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls result, Chetan Bhagat launches non-fiction book titled ‘India Positive’

The Election Commission has issued a notice to BJP candidate from Gurdaspur, Sunny Deol for allegedly violating of the model code of conduct.

Poll officials took serious note of a public meeting held by Deol in Pathankot on Friday night, after the silent period come in force.

They also found that a loudspeaker was used in the public meeting in which around 200 people were present.

In the notice, it was pointed out that by holding a public meeting during the silent period, Deol has violated the model code of conduct.

The election campaign is completely banned 48 hours before the polling process. Polling in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held Sunday.

Deol is pitted against Congress's Sunil Jakhar from the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency.

The Election Commission has issued a notice to BJP candidate from Gurdaspur, Sunny Deol for allegedly violating of the model code of conduct. Poll officials took serious note of a public meeting held by Deol in Pathankot on Friday night, after the silent period come in force.

The Election Commission has issued a notice to BJP candidate from Gurdaspur, Sunny Deol for allegedly violating of the model code of conduct. Poll officials took serious note of a public meeting held by Deol in Pathankot on Friday night, after the silent period come in force. They also found that a loudspeaker was used in the public meeting in which around 200 people were present. In the notice, it was pointed out that by holding a public meeting during the silent period, Deol has violated the model code of conduct. The election campaign is completely banned 48 hours before the polling process. Polling in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held Sunday. Deol is pitted against Congress's Sunil Jakhar from the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency.

Election Commission issues notice to Sunny Deol for 'violating' poll code

Looking forward to exercising his franchise once again Sunday, India's "first" voter Shyam Saran Negi Saturday appealed to Himachal Pradesh electors to elect "honest" candidates for all the four Lok Sabha seats in the state.

"Elect honest and active candidates for your parliamentary seats instead of voting for particular parties," 102-year-old Negi told PTI.

Negi also expressed his desire to vote again on Sunday during the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/pm-modi-among-918-candidates-whose-fate-to-be-decided-in-final-phase-of-lok-sabha-polling-on-sunday-219696">final phase of 2019 general elections</a>.

"A resident of Himachal's tribal district Kinnaur, Shyam Sharan Negi is India's first voter and very important for the state Election Department," Kinnaur District Election Officer Gopal Chand told PTI.

A retired school teacher, Negi, as per his official records, was born on July 1, 1917.

Negi still vividly remembers how he became India's first voter.

"India's first election was held in February 1952, but the voting for remote, tribal areas in Himachal was held five months in advance on October 23, 1952, owing to fears of inclement weather rendering the exercise impossible here during winter," he said.

"I was a school teacher then and had been put on the election duty. Due to it, I reached my polling booth at Kalpa Primary School in Kinnaur at 7 am to cast my vote. I was the first one to reach there and cast my vote," he said.

"Later I was told I was the first to cast my vote anywhere in the area," he said with a glint in his eyes.

Negi added he proceeded to join his election duty after casting his vote.

Negi, who also made a special appearance in Hindi film "Sanam Re", said he never missed casting his vote ever since then whether it be a panchayat election or the Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

Talking of his desire to vote again, Negi complained of his failing health as a possible impediment in fulfilling it.

"It's my last wish to vote again. But I have got immobile legs and aching knees now, besides failing vision and hearing," said Negi.

On Negi's fears, District Election Officer Gopal Chand said, "Negi is very important for us. We will have him brought to the polling booth and drop him back at his home."

"We still take care of his health and other needs. A government doctor regularly visits him to check his health," he said.

Negi is among 999 voters of the state who are 100 or above, a state election official said.

Looking forward to exercising his franchise once again Sunday, India's "first" voter Shyam Saran Negi Saturday appealed to Himachal Pradesh electors to elect "honest" candidates for all the four Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Looking forward to exercising his franchise once again Sunday, India's "first" voter Shyam Saran Negi Saturday appealed to Himachal Pradesh electors to elect "honest" candidates for all the four Lok Sabha seats in the state. "Elect honest and active candidates for your parliamentary seats instead of voting for particular parties," 102-year-old Negi told PTI. Negi also expressed his desire to vote again on Sunday during the final phase of 2019 general elections. "A resident of Himachal's tribal district Kinnaur, Shyam Sharan Negi is India's first voter and very important for the state Election Department," Kinnaur District Election Officer Gopal Chand told PTI. A retired school teacher, Negi, as per his official records, was born on July 1, 1917. Negi still vividly remembers how he became India's first voter. "India's first election was held in February 1952, but the voting for remote, tribal areas in Himachal was held five months in advance on October 23, 1952, owing to fears of inclement weather rendering the exercise impossible here during winter," he said. "I was a school teacher then and had been put on the election duty. Due to it, I reached my polling booth at Kalpa Primary School in Kinnaur at 7 am to cast my vote. I was the first one to reach there and cast my vote," he said. "Later I was told I was the first to cast my vote anywhere in the area," he said with a glint in his eyes. Negi added he proceeded to join his election duty after casting his vote. Negi, who also made a special appearance in Hindi film "Sanam Re", said he never missed casting his vote ever since then whether it be a panchayat election or the Lok Sabha polls. Talking of his desire to vote again, Negi complained of his failing health as a possible impediment in fulfilling it. "It's my last wish to vote again. But I have got immobile legs and aching knees now, besides failing vision and hearing," said Negi. On Negi's fears, District Election Officer Gopal Chand said, "Negi is very important for us. We will have him brought to the polling booth and drop him back at his home." "We still take care of his health and other needs. A government doctor regularly visits him to check his health," he said. Negi is among 999 voters of the state who are 100 or above, a state election official said.

India's first voter set to exercise franchise again in last leg of Lok Sabha polls, urges voters to elect honest MPs

As many as four Union ministers are among the 157 candidates in Bihar whose electoral fortunes will be decided on Sunday in the final phase of general elections.

About 1.52 crore voters will exercise their franchise in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies - Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Arrah, Buxar, Karakat, Sasaram, Nalanda and Jehanabad - at 15,811 booths, according to figures made available by the Election Commission.

Seven of these seats were won by the NDA last time, five by the BJP and two by the RLSP, which is now with the "Mahagathbandhan".

One was bagged by the JD(U) headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which then fought separately but is now back with the NDA.

By-poll will also be held for the Dehri Assembly seat, which fell vacant last year upon the disqualification of RJD MLA and former state minister Mohd Ilyas Husain, who was convicted in the bitumen scam by a Ranchi court.

The most keenly-watched contest is in Patna Sahib where Ravi Shankar Prasad, one of the most prominent members of the Narendra Modi cabinet, is seeking entry into the Lok Sabha. The BJP has won the seat in both the elections that have taken place since it came into being after the 2008 delimitation.

However, Prasad faces the challenge of retaining the seat for his party by defeating Shatrughan Sinha - the actor-turned-politician, who won it on both occasions and is now in the fray as the Congress candidate.

The neighbouring Pataliputra has become a prestige issue for the family of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, which has contested the seat twice, losing on both occasions to his former loyalists.

While Prasad himself lost to JD(U)'s Ranjan Yadav, his daughter Misa Bharti was defeated by Ram Kripal Yadav, who fought on a BJP ticket and became a Union minister. Bharti is once again in the fray against Yadav.

Arrah is witnessing a battle of ideological extremes as Union minister RK Singh, an IAS officer, who retired as the Union Home secretary before joining the BJP and making electoral debut five years ago, seeks to retain the seat overcoming the challenge posed by Raju Yadav of the CPI(ML).

Yadav's prospects have been boosted with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan supporting his candidature and the ultra-Left party has reciprocated the gesture by supporting Misa Bharti in Pataliputra.

In Buxar, Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey's bid to retain the seat for the second consecutive term has been challenged by veteran RJD leader Jagadanand Singh, who has represented the Lok Sabha constituency formerly and, unlike the incumbent, who hails from Bhagalpur, is seen as a "local".

Karakat is where RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha made a successful Lok Sabha debut five years ago as an NDA ally and went on to become a Union minister only to part ways in December last year when he joined the Mahagathbandhan.

His bid to retain the seat faces a stiff challenge from JD(U)'s Mahabali Singh, who finished third last time but was the winner in 2009 when his party was with the NDA.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker and veteran Congress leader Meira Kumar is in the fray from Sasaram, which she had represented two times on the trot before losing to BJP's Chhedi Paswan in 2014.

Paswan, who had formerly been the MP from the seat in 1989 and 1991 on Janata Dal ticket, has once again been fielded by his party. Kumar's father, former Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram, had represented the reserved seat several times, mostly on Congress ticket and twice as Janata Party's candidate.

In Nalanda, second term JD(U) MP Kaushalendra Kumar - a confidant of the Chief Minister, who retained the seat for the party in 2014 surmounting the Modi wave - is once again in the fray.

His bid has been challenged by Ashok Kumar Azad Chandravanshi, who has been fielded by Hindustani Awam Morcha of Jitan Ram Manjhi - a former Chief Minister, who floated his own outfit after quitting the JD(U), started off as an NDA partner but ended up with the Mahagathbandhan.

Jehanabad was won by RLSP's Arun Kumar, but he was expelled by the party and went on float his own outfit which neither the NDA nor the Mahagathbandhan agreed to back. His bid to retain the seat is meeting with a two-pronged challenge from RJD's Surendra Yadav - an MLA from the adjoining district of Gaya, who has been notorious for strong-arm style of politics - and JD(U)'s Chandreshwar Prasad Yaduvanshi.

Another notable candidate in Jehanabad is Angesh Kumar - a rebel candidate initially backed by Lalu Prasad's disgruntled elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, who later pulled back in the larger interest of his father's party.&nbsp;

As many as four Union ministers are among the 157 candidates in Bihar whose electoral fortunes will be decided on Sunday in the final phase of general elections.

As many as four Union ministers are among the 157 candidates in Bihar whose electoral fortunes will be decided on Sunday in the final phase of general elections. About 1.52 crore voters will exercise their franchise in the eight Lok Sabha constituencies - Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Arrah, Buxar, Karakat, Sasaram, Nalanda and Jehanabad - at 15,811 booths, according to figures made available by the Election Commission. Seven of these seats were won by the NDA last time, five by the BJP and two by the RLSP, which is now with the "Mahagathbandhan". One was bagged by the JD(U) headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which then fought separately but is now back with the NDA. By-poll will also be held for the Dehri Assembly seat, which fell vacant last year upon the disqualification of RJD MLA and former state minister Mohd Ilyas Husain, who was convicted in the bitumen scam by a Ranchi court. The most keenly-watched contest is in Patna Sahib where Ravi Shankar Prasad, one of the most prominent members of the Narendra Modi cabinet, is seeking entry into the Lok Sabha. The BJP has won the seat in both the elections that have taken place since it came into being after the 2008 delimitation. However, Prasad faces the challenge of retaining the seat for his party by defeating Shatrughan Sinha - the actor-turned-politician, who won it on both occasions and is now in the fray as the Congress candidate. The neighbouring Pataliputra has become a prestige issue for the family of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, which has contested the seat twice, losing on both occasions to his former loyalists. While Prasad himself lost to JD(U)'s Ranjan Yadav, his daughter Misa Bharti was defeated by Ram Kripal Yadav, who fought on a BJP ticket and became a Union minister. Bharti is once again in the fray against Yadav. Arrah is witnessing a battle of ideological extremes as Union minister RK Singh, an IAS officer, who retired as the Union Home secretary before joining the BJP and making electoral debut five years ago, seeks to retain the seat overcoming the challenge posed by Raju Yadav of the CPI(ML). Yadav's prospects have been boosted with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan supporting his candidature and the ultra-Left party has reciprocated the gesture by supporting Misa Bharti in Pataliputra. In Buxar, Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey's bid to retain the seat for the second consecutive term has been challenged by veteran RJD leader Jagadanand Singh, who has represented the Lok Sabha constituency formerly and, unlike the incumbent, who hails from Bhagalpur, is seen as a "local". Karakat is where RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha made a successful Lok Sabha debut five years ago as an NDA ally and went on to become a Union minister only to part ways in December last year when he joined the Mahagathbandhan. His bid to retain the seat faces a stiff challenge from JD(U)'s Mahabali Singh, who finished third last time but was the winner in 2009 when his party was with the NDA. Former Lok Sabha Speaker and veteran Congress leader Meira Kumar is in the fray from Sasaram, which she had represented two times on the trot before losing to BJP's Chhedi Paswan in 2014. Paswan, who had formerly been the MP from the seat in 1989 and 1991 on Janata Dal ticket, has once again been fielded by his party. Kumar's father, former Deputy Prime Minister Jagjivan Ram, had represented the reserved seat several times, mostly on Congress ticket and twice as Janata Party's candidate. In Nalanda, second term JD(U) MP Kaushalendra Kumar - a confidant of the Chief Minister, who retained the seat for the party in 2014 surmounting the Modi wave - is once again in the fray. His bid has been challenged by Ashok Kumar Azad Chandravanshi, who has been fielded by Hindustani Awam Morcha of Jitan Ram Manjhi - a former Chief Minister, who floated his own outfit after quitting the JD(U), started off as an NDA partner but ended up with the Mahagathbandhan. Jehanabad was won by RLSP's Arun Kumar, but he was expelled by the party and went on float his own outfit which neither the NDA nor the Mahagathbandhan agreed to back. His bid to retain the seat is meeting with a two-pronged challenge from RJD's Surendra Yadav - an MLA from the adjoining district of Gaya, who has been notorious for strong-arm style of politics - and JD(U)'s Chandreshwar Prasad Yaduvanshi. Another notable candidate in Jehanabad is Angesh Kumar - a rebel candidate initially backed by Lalu Prasad's disgruntled elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, who later pulled back in the larger interest of his father's party.

Four Union ministers in fray in last phase of Lok Sabha polls in Bihar

Preparations are in place for the seventh and final phase of the general elections in West Bengal, where nine Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls on Sunday.

An electorate of 1,49,63,064 will decide the fate of 111 candidates in these nine seats -- Kolkata North and Kolkata South, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar (SC) and Mathurapur (SC).

Eight seats, barring Jadavpur, will witness a four- cornered contest between the Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Congress and the Left Front.

The Congress has given the Jadavpur seat a miss.

Sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is the nephew of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and considered the number two in the party, is seeking re-election from the Diamond Harbour seat, where he is pitted against BJP's Nilanjan Roy.

The CPI(M) has nominated Fuad Halim and the Congress Soumya Aich Roy for the seat.

In the Jadavpur seat, TMC's celebrity candidate Mimi Chakraborty will contest against Anupam Hazra of the BJP.

The CPI(M) has fielded senior leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.

Basirhat Lok Sabha seat will see another star TMC candidate Nusrat Jahan locking horns with BJP's Sayantan Basu.

The Congress has nominated Quazi Abdur Rahim and the Left Front constituent CPI, Pallab Sengupta.

In the Dum Dum seat, the BJP has fielded Samik Bhattacharya against sitting TMC MP Saugata Ray. Left Front major CPI(M) has nominated Nepaldeb Bhattacharya, while the Congress announced the name of Saurav Saha.

TMC MP Kakoli Ghoshdastidar is contesting against BJP's Mrinal Kanti Debnath in Barasat, where the Congress has nominated Subrata Dutta and Left Front Constituent All India Forward Bloc, Haripada Biswas.

In the Jaynagar (SC) seat, TMC's Pratima Mondal will contest against Ashok Kandary of the BJP. The Congress has fielded Tapan Mondal and Left Front constituent RSP, Subhas Naskar.

Choudhury Mohan Jatua is the TMC candidate from the Mathurapur (SC) constituency against BJP's Shyama Prasad Halder. The Congress has named Krittibas Sardar and the CPI(M) fielded Sarat Chandra Haldar for the seat.

Kolkata South will witness Mala Roy of the TMC battling it out against BJP's Chandra Kumar Bose. The CPI(M) has nominated Nandini Mukherjee and the Congress Mita Chakraborty.

In Kolkata North, Sudip Bandyopadhyay will contest against Rahul Sinha, the BJP national secretary. The CPI(M) has fielded Kaninika Bose and the Congress, Syed Shahid Imam.

A total of 710 companies of central forces are being deployed by the Election Commission to cover 17,042 polling booths to ensure free and fair voting, officials said.

The nine constituencies are spread across the three districts of Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas.

The high-voltage campaign for the final phase saw poll meetings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress leader Sachin Pilot and West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.

The prime minister held four poll meetings on the last two days of the campaign, while Banerjee took part in several road shows at different places in the metropolis in the run-up to this phase.

Shah's roadshow in the city on Tuesday was marred by violence and destruction of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's bust in a college in north Kolkata.

In a first such action in India's electoral history, the Election Commission ordered campaigning in the nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 pm on Thursday, instead of 6 pm on Friday, in the wake of the violence between the BJP and the TMC during Shah's roadshow.

Besides general election observers and expenditure observers, the poll panel has for the first time deployed a special police observer and a special observer.

VVPAT will be also be used in all the polling booths along with the EVMs, EC officials said

Preparations are in place for the seventh and final phase of the general elections in West Bengal, where nine Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls on Sunday.

Preparations are in place for the seventh and final phase of the general elections in West Bengal, where nine Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls on Sunday. An electorate of 1,49,63,064 will decide the fate of 111 candidates in these nine seats -- Kolkata North and Kolkata South, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar (SC) and Mathurapur (SC). Eight seats, barring Jadavpur, will witness a four- cornered contest between the Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the Congress and the Left Front. The Congress has given the Jadavpur seat a miss. Sitting MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is the nephew of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and considered the number two in the party, is seeking re-election from the Diamond Harbour seat, where he is pitted against BJP's Nilanjan Roy. The CPI(M) has nominated Fuad Halim and the Congress Soumya Aich Roy for the seat. In the Jadavpur seat, TMC's celebrity candidate Mimi Chakraborty will contest against Anupam Hazra of the BJP. The CPI(M) has fielded senior leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya. Basirhat Lok Sabha seat will see another star TMC candidate Nusrat Jahan locking horns with BJP's Sayantan Basu. The Congress has nominated Quazi Abdur Rahim and the Left Front constituent CPI, Pallab Sengupta. In the Dum Dum seat, the BJP has fielded Samik Bhattacharya against sitting TMC MP Saugata Ray. Left Front major CPI(M) has nominated Nepaldeb Bhattacharya, while the Congress announced the name of Saurav Saha. TMC MP Kakoli Ghoshdastidar is contesting against BJP's Mrinal Kanti Debnath in Barasat, where the Congress has nominated Subrata Dutta and Left Front Constituent All India Forward Bloc, Haripada Biswas. In the Jaynagar (SC) seat, TMC's Pratima Mondal will contest against Ashok Kandary of the BJP. The Congress has fielded Tapan Mondal and Left Front constituent RSP, Subhas Naskar. Choudhury Mohan Jatua is the TMC candidate from the Mathurapur (SC) constituency against BJP's Shyama Prasad Halder. The Congress has named Krittibas Sardar and the CPI(M) fielded Sarat Chandra Haldar for the seat. Kolkata South will witness Mala Roy of the TMC battling it out against BJP's Chandra Kumar Bose. The CPI(M) has nominated Nandini Mukherjee and the Congress Mita Chakraborty. In Kolkata North, Sudip Bandyopadhyay will contest against Rahul Sinha, the BJP national secretary. The CPI(M) has fielded Kaninika Bose and the Congress, Syed Shahid Imam. A total of 710 companies of central forces are being deployed by the Election Commission to cover 17,042 polling booths to ensure free and fair voting, officials said. The nine constituencies are spread across the three districts of Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas. The high-voltage campaign for the final phase saw poll meetings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress leader Sachin Pilot and West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. The prime minister held four poll meetings on the last two days of the campaign, while Banerjee took part in several road shows at different places in the metropolis in the run-up to this phase. Shah's roadshow in the city on Tuesday was marred by violence and destruction of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's bust in a college in north Kolkata. In a first such action in India's electoral history, the Election Commission ordered campaigning in the nine West Bengal constituencies to end at 10 pm on Thursday, instead of 6 pm on Friday, in the wake of the violence between the BJP and the TMC during Shah's roadshow. Besides general election observers and expenditure observers, the poll panel has for the first time deployed a special police observer and a special observer. VVPAT will be also be used in all the polling booths along with the EVMs, EC officials said

Nine Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal to go to polls in seventh phase

In a bid to lure more and more voters to exercise their franchise at polling stations and to make them more citizen-friendly, a polling booth in Bihar's capital Patna is offering a unique experience to the electorates as special arrangements such as creche, breastfeeding room and first aid facilities have been set up.

To make voting hassle-free for those accompanied by toddlers, tables, chairs, and board games have been set up for the kids to enjoy whilst their parents exercise their franchise without having to worry about their little ones.

"A creche and a breastfeeding room are being set up which is almost ready. Along with these, tables and chairs have been placed for children so that they can play board games. There are bats and balls as well for them. It is a child-friendly booth," Renu Kumari, an official, told ANI.

"The idea is to make sure that children should feel good and not feel stressed out. If they want to relax, they can take a nap as well," she added.

Underlining that no voter should be left behind, Kumari said, "Be it any pregnant lady or mother having little children or breastfeeding mothers, these facilities have been set up so that they do not get inconvenienced while they come out to vote tomorrow."

In Jharkhand's Dumka, which is going to polls tomorrow along with two other seats, polling parties have left for their respective polling stations after collecting EVMs and VVPATs.

"Tomorrow, we will do an air recce to keep a watch on sensitive areas during polling. We have deployed paramilitary forces at hyper-sensitive polling booths. Adequate forces have been deployed in areas based on their sensitivity. We hope that there is a huge voter turnout here," Dumka Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar told ANI.

A total of 59 parliamentary constituencies will go to polls on May 19. About 918 candidates are in the fray.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/pm-modi-among-918-candidates-whose-fate-to-be-decided-in-final-phase-of-lok-sabha-polling-on-sunday-219696">In the last phase of polling</a>, 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 polling.

Counting of votes for all 543 constituencies will take place on May 23.&nbsp;

In a bid to lure more and more voters to exercise their franchise at polling stations and to make them more citizen-friendly, a polling booth in Bihar's capital Patna is offering a unique experience to the electorates as special arrangements such as creche, breastfeeding room and first aid facilities have been set up.

In a bid to lure more and more voters to exercise their franchise at polling stations and to make them more citizen-friendly, a polling booth in Bihar's capital Patna is offering a unique experience to the electorates as special arrangements such as creche, breastfeeding room and first aid facilities have been set up. To make voting hassle-free for those accompanied by toddlers, tables, chairs, and board games have been set up for the kids to enjoy whilst their parents exercise their franchise without having to worry about their little ones. "A creche and a breastfeeding room are being set up which is almost ready. Along with these, tables and chairs have been placed for children so that they can play board games. There are bats and balls as well for them. It is a child-friendly booth," Renu Kumari, an official, told ANI. "The idea is to make sure that children should feel good and not feel stressed out. If they want to relax, they can take a nap as well," she added. Underlining that no voter should be left behind, Kumari said, "Be it any pregnant lady or mother having little children or breastfeeding mothers, these facilities have been set up so that they do not get inconvenienced while they come out to vote tomorrow." In Jharkhand's Dumka, which is going to polls tomorrow along with two other seats, polling parties have left for their respective polling stations after collecting EVMs and VVPATs. "Tomorrow, we will do an air recce to keep a watch on sensitive areas during polling. We have deployed paramilitary forces at hyper-sensitive polling booths. Adequate forces have been deployed in areas based on their sensitivity. We hope that there is a huge voter turnout here," Dumka Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar told ANI. A total of 59 parliamentary constituencies will go to polls on May 19. About 918 candidates are in the fray. 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 polling. Counting of votes for all 543 constituencies will take place on May 23.

Lok Sabha polls phase 7: Bihar gets polling booth with creche, breastfeeding room

The fate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with 917 other candidates will be decided on Sunday, the last phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha polls.

The voting will take place for 59 seats including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/water-management-to-be-priority-if-nda-is-re-elected-pm-modi-219658">Modi is seeking re-election</a>, bringing the curtain down on the seven-phased mammoth electoral exercise which began on April 10.

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.

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.

The most keenly watched electoral battle will take place in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, where Modi is facing Ajay Rai of Congress party and SP's Shalini Yadav.

Other prominent political figures whose fate will be sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are Shatrughan Sinha (Congress) and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) from Patna Sahib constituency, Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan (BJP), Madhusudhan Tripathi (Congress) and Rambhusal Nishad of SP from Gorakhpur seat, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri of BJP and Congress'&nbsp;Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency and actor Sunny Deol, who is pitted against Congress heavyweight Sunil Jakhar from Gurdaspur seat.

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The other leaders whose fortunes will also be decided in the final phase of polling are former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal (Ferozepur), his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Bhatinda) and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's wife Perneet Kaur in (Patiala), all in Punjab, three-time MP Anurag Thakur in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren (Dumka) and former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, who faces sitting MP Kirron Kher in Chandigarh.

The Election Commission (EC) is deploying 710 companies of security forces to ensure the last phase of Lok Sabha polling in West Bengal on Sunday goes off peacefully.

"710 companies of security personnel will be providing 100 per cent coverage during the seventh phase of elections in West Bengal. This will include 512 quick response teams (QRTs) led by assistant commandants," said the EC in a statement.

Out of these 710 companies, a total of 147 companies will be deployed in constituencies which fall under the police jurisdiction of Kolkata police jurisdiction.

Two QRTs will be deployed in each police station, the EC said. The seats which go to polls on Sunday are Kolkata North, Kolkata South, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar (SC) and Mathurapur (SC).

The national poll body on Wednesday decided to cut short the campaign period in the state after violence marred the road show of BJP chief Amit Shah in Kolkata on Tuesday.

BJP and Communist Party of India (Marxist) had complained to the EC over violence and had demanded adequate measures to ensure that polls are held in a free and fair manner.

In the sixth phase of polling on May 12, over 63 per cent polling was recorded, with the highest turnout of 80.35 per cent in West Bengal and a minimum of 59.74 per cent in the city-state of Delhi.

Barring stray incidents of violence in West Bengal, the election on 59 seats spread over eight states remained peaceful. The voting took place from 7 am to 6 pm.

"An estimated 63.43 per cent turnout was recorded on Sunday in the 6th phase of Lok Sabha polls on 59 seats," Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha had said after the polling finished.

The fate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with 917 other candidates will be decided on Sunday, the last phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha polls. The voting will take 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 10.

The fate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with 917 other candidates will be decided on Sunday, the last phase of seven-phased Lok Sabha polls. The voting will take 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 10. 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. 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. The most keenly watched electoral battle will take place in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, where Modi is facing Ajay Rai of Congress party and SP's Shalini Yadav. Other prominent political figures whose fate will be sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are Shatrughan Sinha (Congress) and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) from Patna Sahib constituency, Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan (BJP), Madhusudhan Tripathi (Congress) and Rambhusal Nishad of SP from Gorakhpur seat, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri of BJP and Congress' Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency and actor Sunny Deol, who is pitted against Congress heavyweight Sunil Jakhar from Gurdaspur seat. × The other leaders whose fortunes will also be decided in the final phase of polling are former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal (Ferozepur), his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Bhatinda) and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's wife Perneet Kaur in (Patiala), all in Punjab, three-time MP Anurag Thakur in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren (Dumka) and former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, who faces sitting MP Kirron Kher in Chandigarh. The Election Commission (EC) is deploying 710 companies of security forces to ensure the last phase of Lok Sabha polling in West Bengal on Sunday goes off peacefully. "710 companies of security personnel will be providing 100 per cent coverage during the seventh phase of elections in West Bengal. This will include 512 quick response teams (QRTs) led by assistant commandants," said the EC in a statement. Out of these 710 companies, a total of 147 companies will be deployed in constituencies which fall under the police jurisdiction of Kolkata police jurisdiction. Two QRTs will be deployed in each police station, the EC said. The seats which go to polls on Sunday are Kolkata North, Kolkata South, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Jaynagar (SC) and Mathurapur (SC). The national poll body on Wednesday decided to cut short the campaign period in the state after violence marred the road show of BJP chief Amit Shah in Kolkata on Tuesday. BJP and Communist Party of India (Marxist) had complained to the EC over violence and had demanded adequate measures to ensure that polls are held in a free and fair manner. In the sixth phase of polling on May 12, over 63 per cent polling was recorded, with the highest turnout of 80.35 per cent in West Bengal and a minimum of 59.74 per cent in the city-state of Delhi. Barring stray incidents of violence in West Bengal, the election on 59 seats spread over eight states remained peaceful. The voting took place from 7 am to 6 pm. "An estimated 63.43 per cent turnout was recorded on Sunday in the 6th phase of Lok Sabha polls on 59 seats," Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha had said after the polling finished.

PM Modi among 918 candidates whose fate to be decided in final phase of Lok Sabha polling on Sunday

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday wrote to the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to initiate action against BSP supremo Mayawati for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by posting tweets to influence voters after the end of campaigning for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier today, Mayawati had cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of development in eastern Uttar Pradesh and asserted that it would be 'more historic than a win'&nbsp;if the Prime Minister loses from Varanasi - his Lok Sabha constituency -&nbsp;where polling will be held on Sunday.

Taking to Twitter, Mayawati had attacked the 'Gujarat model of development'&nbsp;and wrote, "The Gujarat model of PM Modi was not at all successful in eliminating extreme poverty, unemployment and backwardness of the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. This is blatant deceit. Instead of development, the Modi-Yogi double-engined government has only given communal tension, hatred and violence to the country."

"This deception and betrayal happened with people of Purvanchal even when PM and UP's CM, both represent this region. If Yogi can be turned down by Gorakhpur, wouldn't the defeat of PM Modi from Varanasi be more historic than his win? Will Varanasi repeat what Raebareli did in 1977?" she added.

Mayawati was referring to the 1977 elections in which the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was defeated from Raebareli constituency.

Campaigning in the bitterly-fought high-stakes Lok Sabha elections, in which Prime Minister Modi is seeking a second-term, came to an end on Friday evening with parties making claims about their victory ahead of polling in 59 constituencies spread over six states and one union territory on May 19.

Congress leader Ajay Rai, who lost to Modi in the last elections, will again face the Prime Minister while SP has fielded Shalini Yadav from the seat.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday wrote to the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to initiate action against BSP supremo Mayawati for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by posting tweets to influence voters after the end of campaigning for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday wrote to the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to initiate action against BSP supremo Mayawati for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by posting tweets to influence voters after the end of campaigning for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections. Earlier today, Mayawati had cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of development in eastern Uttar Pradesh and asserted that it would be 'more historic than a win' if the Prime Minister loses from Varanasi - his Lok Sabha constituency - where polling will be held on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, Mayawati had attacked the 'Gujarat model of development' and wrote, "The Gujarat model of PM Modi was not at all successful in eliminating extreme poverty, unemployment and backwardness of the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. This is blatant deceit. Instead of development, the Modi-Yogi double-engined government has only given communal tension, hatred and violence to the country." "This deception and betrayal happened with people of Purvanchal even when PM and UP's CM, both represent this region. If Yogi can be turned down by Gorakhpur, wouldn't the defeat of PM Modi from Varanasi be more historic than his win? Will Varanasi repeat what Raebareli did in 1977?" she added. Mayawati was referring to the 1977 elections in which the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was defeated from Raebareli constituency. Campaigning in the bitterly-fought high-stakes Lok Sabha elections, in which Prime Minister Modi is seeking a second-term, came to an end on Friday evening with parties making claims about their victory ahead of polling in 59 constituencies spread over six states and one union territory on May 19. Congress leader Ajay Rai, who lost to Modi in the last elections, will again face the Prime Minister while SP has fielded Shalini Yadav from the seat.

BJP seeks action against Mayawati for violating Model Code of Conduct

The Naga People's Front (NPF) on Saturday announced to pull out of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/npf-to-review-its-alliance-with-bjp-in-manipur-219359">BJP-led coalition government in the state</a> soon after the Lok Sabha election process is completed.

"We had a long meeting at NPF central office in Kohima and decided to withdraw support in principle from the BJP-led Manipur government," Achumbemo Kikon, Naga People's Front (NPF) spokesperson told ANI.

NPF leader and former Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang also took to Twitter and said that his party is upset with the "indifferent attitude" of the BJP.

"After an intense deliberation and review meeting with the party functionaries and the NPF MLAs of Manipur state, the NPF has decided in principle to pull out our 4 NPF MLAs from the BJP led government in Manipur headed by N Biren Singh soon after the LS election is completed," Zeliang tweeted.

"This decision at this juncture is necessitated due to the indifferent attitude of the BJP towards us, its coalition partner in Manipur and also in the State of Nagaland. Further implementation of this decision will be finalised after the election process," he added.

This comes after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said the demands of NPF would be taken up for consideration after the Lok Sabha elections conclude.

Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "There was an understanding between NPF and BJP during the formation of the government in the state."

"But due to some unavoidable circumstances, the demands of NPF leaders are pending. These will be taken up by senior party leaders in the state after the Lok Sabha elections are over," he said.

On being asked about the possibility of a reshuffle in the government, Singh said,&nbsp;"Right now I cannot say anything about this. We are in election mood now. I am here in Delhi for the election campaign. I am positive that BJP is coming back to power at the Centre. Modiji is coming back again."

In the polls conducted last year for the 60-member Manipur state assembly, INC got 28 seats, BJP (21 seats), NPF (4 seats), NPP (4 seats), AITC (1 seat), Independent (1 seat) and LJP (1 seat).

The Congress party is also monitoring the political situation in Manipur closely.AICC in-charge for Manipur, Luziheno Falerio told ANI that the party is "observing the current political situation of Manipur and chalking out the strategy and will take a final call day after tomorrow because hearing of a petition is on Monday in the Supreme Court on the disqualification of Congress MLA who joined BJP and became minister in the state government."&nbsp;

The Naga People's Front (NPF) on Saturday announced to pull out of BJP-led coalition government in the state soon after the Lok Sabha election process is completed.

The Naga People's Front (NPF) on Saturday announced to pull out of BJP-led coalition government in the state soon after the Lok Sabha election process is completed. "We had a long meeting at NPF central office in Kohima and decided to withdraw support in principle from the BJP-led Manipur government," Achumbemo Kikon, Naga People's Front (NPF) spokesperson told ANI. NPF leader and former Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang also took to Twitter and said that his party is upset with the "indifferent attitude" of the BJP. "After an intense deliberation and review meeting with the party functionaries and the NPF MLAs of Manipur state, the NPF has decided in principle to pull out our 4 NPF MLAs from the BJP led government in Manipur headed by N Biren Singh soon after the LS election is completed," Zeliang tweeted. "This decision at this juncture is necessitated due to the indifferent attitude of the BJP towards us, its coalition partner in Manipur and also in the State of Nagaland. Further implementation of this decision will be finalised after the election process," he added. This comes after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said the demands of NPF would be taken up for consideration after the Lok Sabha elections conclude. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "There was an understanding between NPF and BJP during the formation of the government in the state." "But due to some unavoidable circumstances, the demands of NPF leaders are pending. These will be taken up by senior party leaders in the state after the Lok Sabha elections are over," he said. On being asked about the possibility of a reshuffle in the government, Singh said, "Right now I cannot say anything about this. We are in election mood now. I am here in Delhi for the election campaign. I am positive that BJP is coming back to power at the Centre. Modiji is coming back again." In the polls conducted last year for the 60-member Manipur state assembly, INC got 28 seats, BJP (21 seats), NPF (4 seats), NPP (4 seats), AITC (1 seat), Independent (1 seat) and LJP (1 seat). The Congress party is also monitoring the political situation in Manipur closely.AICC in-charge for Manipur, Luziheno Falerio told ANI that the party is "observing the current political situation of Manipur and chalking out the strategy and will take a final call day after tomorrow because hearing of a petition is on Monday in the Supreme Court on the disqualification of Congress MLA who joined BJP and became minister in the state government."

NPF to 'pull out' of BJP-led government in Manipur after Lok Sabha poll process is over

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday wrote to the Election Commission to ensure "peaceful and impartial" elections in the state without the interference of the BJP.

The EC should ensure that Sunday's polling is held without the "undue interference of the central government" and any "intervention by the ruling party at the Centre", Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister said.

"In the final phase of the election tomorrow, I would request your good office to kindly ensure that election is completed peacefully, impartially and without any undue interference of the Central government and any intervention by the ruling party at the centre," Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

She also requested the poll body to "protect democratic institutions and federal structure of the country and extend due respect to the opposition parties".&nbsp;

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday wrote to the Election Commission to ensure "peaceful and impartial" elections in the state without the interference of the BJP.

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday wrote to the Election Commission to ensure "peaceful and impartial" elections in the state without the interference of the BJP. The EC should ensure that Sunday's polling is held without the "undue interference of the central government" and any "intervention by the ruling party at the Centre", Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister said. "In the final phase of the election tomorrow, I would request your good office to kindly ensure that election is completed peacefully, impartially and without any undue interference of the Central government and any intervention by the ruling party at the centre," Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. She also requested the poll body to "protect democratic institutions and federal structure of the country and extend due respect to the opposition parties".

Mamata Banerjee asks EC to ensure peaceful and impartial voting in West Bengal in last phase

Congress's Lok Sabha candidate from Lucknow parliamentary constituency, Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Friday criticised party leader Shatrughan Sinha for not following 'party dharma'&nbsp;and taking politics 'lightly'.

Addressing media persons hours after Congress President Rahul Gandhi campaigned for Shatrughan Sinha in Patna, Krishnam said, "Rahul ji joined Shatrughan ji's roadshow as he was following 'party dharma'&nbsp;but Shatrughan ji didn't follow 'party dharma'.

He's taking politics lightly. Politics is related to India's future, there should be sensibility.

"Krishnam also advised Sinha to give 'respect'&nbsp;to the party and added, "It is the large-heartedness of Rahul Gandhi that he gave respect to Shatrughan Sinha but Shatrughan Sinha should also give respect to the party."

Earlier in April, Sinha had campaigned for his wife and SP-BSP-RLD grand alliance candidate Poonam Sinha who is contesting against Krishnam from Lucknow parliamentary constituency.

Krishnam at that time also had criticised Sinha and asked him to campaign for his own party.

"Shatrughan Sinha has come here and fulfilled his duty as a husband, but I would like to tell him that he should now campaign for his party and fulfil his political dharma," Krishnam had said.

Polling in Lucknow for the Lok Sabha elections took place on May 6 and the result will be announced on May 23.&nbsp;

Congress's Lok Sabha candidate from Lucknow parliamentary constituency, Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Friday criticised party leader Shatrughan Sinha for not following 'party dharma' and taking politics 'lightly'.

Congress's Lok Sabha candidate from Lucknow parliamentary constituency, Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Friday criticised party leader Shatrughan Sinha for not following 'party dharma' and taking politics 'lightly'. Addressing media persons hours after Congress President Rahul Gandhi campaigned for Shatrughan Sinha in Patna, Krishnam said, "Rahul ji joined Shatrughan ji's roadshow as he was following 'party dharma' but Shatrughan ji didn't follow 'party dharma'. He's taking politics lightly. Politics is related to India's future, there should be sensibility. "Krishnam also advised Sinha to give 'respect' to the party and added, "It is the large-heartedness of Rahul Gandhi that he gave respect to Shatrughan Sinha but Shatrughan Sinha should also give respect to the party." Earlier in April, Sinha had campaigned for his wife and SP-BSP-RLD grand alliance candidate Poonam Sinha who is contesting against Krishnam from Lucknow parliamentary constituency. Krishnam at that time also had criticised Sinha and asked him to campaign for his own party. "Shatrughan Sinha has come here and fulfilled his duty as a husband, but I would like to tell him that he should now campaign for his party and fulfil his political dharma," Krishnam had said. Polling in Lucknow for the Lok Sabha elections took place on May 6 and the result will be announced on May 23.

Shatrughan Sinha didn't follow 'party dharma', taking politics lightly: Acharya Pramod Krishnam

In his last election rally on Friday, PM Narendra Modi gave an indication as to what his priority will be in his second term if his party is elected back to power.

In his second term, his prime focus will be water management. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/would-never-be-able-to-forgive-pragya-for-godse-remark-pm-modi-219397">In Madhya Pradesh's Khargone yesterday, PM Modi said</a>, "Fifty years ago, Lohia told Jawaharlal Nehru that the most important issues facing women were water and sanitation... I am fulfilling Lohia's wish. After constructing toilets and giving dignity to women, I will focus my next term on ensuring clean drinking water."

BJP's manifesto has promised the setting up of a unified Ministry of Water to end the water woes of the country.

The Centre issued a drought advisory to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, asking them to use water judiciously in the coming weeks as water storage in dams dropped to a critical level.

With almost all of rural India depending on monsoon rain for agriculture and domestic purpose, there is a desperate need for water management.

If Modi gets a second term and manages to achieve&nbsp;this, in addition to augmenting Swachh Bharat, Ujwala Yojana and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, he would have secured the confidence of at least 50 per cent of the electorate - women voters.

Currently, management of water resources is fragmented between six or seven ministries, a centralised system would plug loopholes and even put the river clean up missions in the country on track.

Ganga clean up action was Modi's commitment to his constituency and electorate but in the past five years, things have not moved in the pace that he had envisioned.

Hundreds of crores of rupees set-aside for the Namami Gange plan lie unspent. Almost 400 million people's lives depend on Ganga water. If Modi can actually get a team to focus on cleaning up the river, manage it in such a manner that the water is piped into every home in the region in the next two to three years, it would mean a sure shot electoral victory as well as a huge improvement in the lives of millions.

It is estimated that 200,000 Indians die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.&nbsp;

In his last election rally on Friday, PM Narendra Modi gave an indication as to what his priority will be in his second term if his party is elected back to power.

In his last election rally on Friday, PM Narendra Modi gave an indication as to what his priority will be in his second term if his party is elected back to power. In his second term, his prime focus will be water management. In Madhya Pradesh's Khargone yesterday, PM Modi said, "Fifty years ago, Lohia told Jawaharlal Nehru that the most important issues facing women were water and sanitation... I am fulfilling Lohia's wish. After constructing toilets and giving dignity to women, I will focus my next term on ensuring clean drinking water." BJP's manifesto has promised the setting up of a unified Ministry of Water to end the water woes of the country. The Centre issued a drought advisory to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, asking them to use water judiciously in the coming weeks as water storage in dams dropped to a critical level. With almost all of rural India depending on monsoon rain for agriculture and domestic purpose, there is a desperate need for water management. If Modi gets a second term and manages to achieve this, in addition to augmenting Swachh Bharat, Ujwala Yojana and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, he would have secured the confidence of at least 50 per cent of the electorate - women voters. Currently, management of water resources is fragmented between six or seven ministries, a centralised system would plug loopholes and even put the river clean up missions in the country on track. Ganga clean up action was Modi's commitment to his constituency and electorate but in the past five years, things have not moved in the pace that he had envisioned. Hundreds of crores of rupees set-aside for the Namami Gange plan lie unspent. Almost 400 million people's lives depend on Ganga water. If Modi can actually get a team to focus on cleaning up the river, manage it in such a manner that the water is piped into every home in the region in the next two to three years, it would mean a sure shot electoral victory as well as a huge improvement in the lives of millions. It is estimated that 200,000 Indians die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.

Water management to be prime focus if NDA is re-elected: PM Modi

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of senior Congress leaders on May 22, a day ahead of the counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections.

All senior leaders, General Secretaries and 'in-charge'&nbsp;of the party have been called by Gandhi to prepare for the meeting of UPA allies and some other parties she has convened on May 23 in a bid to keep the BJP out of power if the ruling party is short of a majority in a hung house.

The possibility of roping in new non-NDA parties into the UPA coalition to buttress the opposition numbers may be discussed in the May 22 meeting, sources said.

After the feedback session, tasks will be assigned to various leaders as per their expertise. A team of four leaders has already been put in place to reach out to potential allies and is working hard to make the alliance meeting successful.

Gandhi is understood to have invited leaders of secular parties including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK chief MK Stalin, RJD and TMC for the meeting on a day the results will be out.

Everybody is working hard to sway fence sitters and the Congress was also seeing a change in the tone of leaders like Telangana Chief Minister K.

Chandrashekar Rao. Rao has recently met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and DMK chief M K Stalin as part of his efforts to form a third front government.

There were reports that Rao and the chief of YSRCP Congress Jaganmohan Reddy have also been invited but there was no confirmation.

The sources said Congress was confident that BJP was not going to get a majority and that was why it wanted to put in place a front to outsmart the rival BJP in case of a hung Parliament.&nbsp;

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of senior Congress leaders on May 22, a day ahead of the counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections. All senior leaders, General Secretaries and 'in-charge' of the party have been called by Gandhi to prepare for the meeting of UPA allies and some other parties she has convened on May 23 in a bid to keep the BJP out of power if the ruling party is short of a majority in a hung house.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of senior Congress leaders on May 22, a day ahead of the counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections. All senior leaders, General Secretaries and 'in-charge' of the party have been called by Gandhi to prepare for the meeting of UPA allies and some other parties she has convened on May 23 in a bid to keep the BJP out of power if the ruling party is short of a majority in a hung house. The possibility of roping in new non-NDA parties into the UPA coalition to buttress the opposition numbers may be discussed in the May 22 meeting, sources said. After the feedback session, tasks will be assigned to various leaders as per their expertise. A team of four leaders has already been put in place to reach out to potential allies and is working hard to make the alliance meeting successful. Gandhi is understood to have invited leaders of secular parties including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK chief MK Stalin, RJD and TMC for the meeting on a day the results will be out. Everybody is working hard to sway fence sitters and the Congress was also seeing a change in the tone of leaders like Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. Rao has recently met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and DMK chief M K Stalin as part of his efforts to form a third front government. There were reports that Rao and the chief of YSRCP Congress Jaganmohan Reddy have also been invited but there was no confirmation. The sources said Congress was confident that BJP was not going to get a majority and that was why it wanted to put in place a front to outsmart the rival BJP in case of a hung Parliament.

Sonia Gandhi calls meeting of senior Congress leaders on May 22 to muster strategies

In PM Modi's attire in Kedarnath, message to Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal