Campaigning has ended for the penultimate phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 58 constituencies across six states and two Union territories. Voting will take place on Saturday, marking the sixth round of the seven-phase elections.
This round includes all seven seats in Delhi, along with constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
In total, voting has been completed in 25 states and Union territories, covering 428 constituencies out of 543. The final phase is scheduled for June 1, with the counting of votes to follow on June 4.
Several key contestants are in the fray for this phase. Among them are Dharmendra Pradhan from Sambalpur in Odisha, Manoj Tiwari and Kanhaiya Kumar from North East Delhi, Maneka Gandhi from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Mehbooba Mufti from Anantnag-Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, Abhijit Gangopadhyay from Tamluk in West Bengal, and BJP’s Manohar Lal Khattar, Naveen Jindal, and Rao Inderjit Singh from Haryana.
The Election Commission has issued warnings to both BJP and Congress leaders to refrain from making speeches on religious and communal lines, as well as divisive statements on the socioeconomic composition of the armed forces.
On the last day of campaigning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in Punjab and Haryana. He criticised the INDIA bloc, suggesting that internal conflicts within the alliance were already surfacing. Modi also reassured the public that reservations for Dalits and tribals would remain intact.
In Delhi, the BJP campaign was robust, with rallies and canvassing by key leaders including Union ministers and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states.
The Congress campaign was led by Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Sachin Pilot, with support from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders.
AAP's campaign gained momentum with the release of Kejriwal from Tihar Jail. Kejriwal, along with Bhagwant Mann and his wife Sunita Kejriwal, participated in roadshows and meetings to rally support for party candidates.
The alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal at Kejriwal’s residence has also become a significant issue, with Kejriwal calling for a fair investigation.
In Odisha, BJP candidate Sambit Patra stirred controversy with his remark about Lord Jagannath being a devotee of Modi. Patra later apologised, but the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lodged a complaint with the Election Commission.
During his campaigns in Uttar Pradesh, Modi accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party of prioritising their vote banks over important cultural events like the Kumbh Mela. BSP chief Mayawati labelled both the Congress and BJP as anti-Dalit and anti-backward.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in his rallies, claimed the BJP has already secured over 310 seats in the previous phases of polling. He also accused opposition leaders of nepotism, asserting that their focus on family politics would not benefit their constituencies.
Shah reiterated the BJP’s stance on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, asserting that it is a part of India and the party aims to reclaim it.
As the election approaches its final phase, the intensity of campaigning and the rhetoric from all parties underscore the high stakes and the competitive nature of this crucial electoral battle.
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