MARATHON CAMPAIGN DRAWS TO A CLOSE

Modi accuses I.N.D.I.A of being "corrupt and anti-Hindu” | Opposition claims BJP is anti-farmer and anti-youth

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The high-pitched campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in 57 seats in seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh on June 1 ended Thursday evening.

Polling is scheduled in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three seats in Jharkhand besides Chandigarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term from Varanasi.

Voting is already over in 486 seats in 28 states and Union territories. The turnout in the first six phases was 66.14 per cent, 66.71, 65.68, 69.16, 62.2 and 63.36 per cent, respectively. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.

The campaigning saw BJP leaders led by Modi accusing the Congress and the I.N.D.I.A of being "corrupt, anti-Hindu and engaging in loot, appeasement and dynastic politics".

The Opposition parties have been claiming that the BJP is anti-farmer, anti-youth and will change and scrap the Constitution if they win the elections.