Page 30 - Lok Sabha Elections

LS polls: BJP will win over 370 seats, NDA over 400, says BJP chief Nadda

People have voted for a capable, powerful, developed and self-reliant India and to put aside appeasement, nepotism and corruption, BJP chief JP Nadda said on Saturday, exuding confidence that his party will win more than 370 Lok Sabha seats and the NDA more than 400. His remarks came on a day when polling was held for the seventh and last phase of the general elections. Counting of votes will be conducted on June 4. In a statement, Nadda thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making this "festival of democracy" a success for the BJP. "His efforts are definitely yielding results," the BJP chief said. Nadda also thanked BJP leaders, including Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gakari, and the "crores of party workers" for their contributions during the elections. He also thanked constituents of the NDA for enthusiastically participating in the election and said with their hardwork, they succeeded in conveying their thoughts to the people. "In this election, the vot

'INDIA' bloc will win over 295 Lok Sabha seats, says Kharge after Oppn meet

He said the opposition parties have sought time from the Election Commission on Sunday to raise their concerns and urge the poll body to address them

'Opportunistic INDI Alliance' failed to strike chord with voters: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday exuded confidence that people have voted in record numbers to re-elect the NDA government and said the "opportunistic INDI Alliance" failed to strike a chord with the voters who rejected their "regressive politics". As polling ended for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Modi said the people have seen his government's track record and the manner in which its work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, marginalised and downtrodden. "India has voted! A heartfelt thank you to all those who exercised their franchise. Their active participation is the cornerstone of our democracy. Their commitment and dedication ensures that the democratic spirit thrives in our nation. I would also like to specially appreciate India's Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti. Their strong presence at the polls is a very encouraging sign," Modi said in a series of posts on X. The prime minister said he can say with confidence that the

Voters of Punjab's Kalu Wala village ferried to polling station in boats

A BSF unit was deployed to safely and conveniently ferry the voters of Kalu Wala village in Punjab's Ferozepur district, which is surrounded by Sutlej river on three sides and India-Pakistan border on the other, to their polling station on Saturday. "Surrounded by the river Sutlej on three sides Int. (international) border on fourth, booth at the village Kalu Wala in Ferozepur distt. (district) is very unique. A unit of BSF was deployed to safely & conveniently ferry voters of Kalu Wala village to their polling station," said a post on X by Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab. The voters were brought in boats to the polling booth to cast their votes. Polling for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab was held on Saturday.

Early exit polls predicts majority for BJP-led NDA in LS elections

Early exit polls predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA, with the ruling alliance projected to open its account in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and sweep Karnataka. The Republic TV-P Marq poll claimed that the ruling alliance will win up to 359 seats and the opposition INDIA bloc will bag 154 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. The Republic TV-Matrize poll gave 353-368 seats to the NDA and 118-133 seats to the opposition. The Jan Ki Baat poll gave 362-392 seats to the ruling NDA and 141-161 to the opposition alliance. However, several other exit polls, including those from Axis My India and Today's Chanakya, were yet to forecast the full results by 7.15 pm.

LS polls: 'Deeply humbled' by voters who turned up at booths, says EC

The Election Commission on Saturday said it was "deeply humbled" by the voters who made it to polling stations overcoming many challenges and dilemmas they might have. The Commission's remarks came after the votes were cast for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections which were announced on March 16. The first phase was held on April 19. "Indian voters have given their most cherished right to vote for the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha. Indian democracy and Indian elections have again done the magic. The great Indian voters, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, socio-economic and educational background have done it once again," the poll watchdog said in a statement. The real winner, EC said, is the Indian voter. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and the EC family are "deeply humbled by the voters, who made it to the polling station overcoming many challenges and dilemmas they

LS polls: 4 security personnel on election duty in Bihar die of heatstroke

Four security personnel deployed for the Lok Sabha elections have died due to heatstroke over the last one week in Bihar's Rohtas district, an official said on Saturday. Five security personnel, including two from Nagaland, have died in the last one week in Rohtas, and of them, four died due to heatstroke, said DIG Naveen Chandra Jha. Among the deceased were Indian Reserve Battalion personnel A Nikiye Sumi, a resident of Nagaland's Zunheboto district, and Pitlohi Losho, a resident of the state's Phek district. The other deceased were Bihar Police personnel Subhash Prasad Singh of Munger, Devnath Ram of Bhojpur and Samiullah of Motihari, a statement said. Apart from them, 10 polling personnel died due to heatstroke in the state since Thursday, besides four common people. The state has been reeling under severe heatwave conditions with the mercury crossing 43 degrees Celsius in several places.

Sikkim assembly polls: SKM, SDF candidates awaits ahead of counting on Sun

The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) hopes for a second consecutive term and the opposition SDF to unseat it from power as votes polled in 32 assembly constituencies in the Himalayan state will be counted on Sunday, officials said. Also in the fray are nominees of the BJP, Congress and Citizen Action Party-Sikkim (CAP-S) as counting will be held at six locations in as many districts amid tight security arrangements from 6 am on Sunday. Preparations have been made for counting votes for nine seats in Gangtok district, seven in Namchi, five in Pakyong, four each in Soreng and Gyalshing and three in Mangan, they said. Elaborate security arrangements have been made under the supervision of the observers deputed by the Election Commission of India to carry out the process in a free and fair manner, the officials said. An estimated 80 per cent of the 4.64 lakh voters exercised their franchise in 32 assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat in the first phase on April 19. Votes

LS polls: INDIA bloc to get over 295 seats, says Kharge after meeting

INDIA bloc parties will get more than 295 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Saturday, asserting that they had arrived at the figure after feedback from people. Addressing reporters here after a meeting of top leaders of the opposition bloc at his residence here, Kharge said the leaders of the alliance met for about two and a half hours and discussed a host of issues, especially the precautions to be taken on counting day and the instructions they have to give to their parties' workers. Votes for the seven-phase general elections will be counted on June 4. Targeting the BJP, he said, "They are trying to give a narrative through government exit polls and we want to tell the people the truth." "The INDIA bloc will get more than 295 seats. We have arrived at this figure after speaking with all our leaders," Kharge said. "This is a survey of the people. The people have given this information to our leaders. The government surveys are there and

Sensex to GDP: How India looked when a party won 400 seats the last time

If the BJP secures over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha, it will be the second party to do so after Congress, which won 414 seats in 1984 after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

Viewers beware: Five times when exit polls proved to be really wrong

Lok Sabha elections will conclude today with the final round of voting in 57 constituencies across eight states and UTs

Lok Sabha polls phase 7: Over 58% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm

A voter turnout of 58.34 per cent was recorded till 5 pm on Saturday in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls with incidents of violence between TMC and BJP supporters reported in Sandeshkhali region of West Bengal, and complaints of EVM glitches and rigging at some booths lodged. Polling is underway in seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh for 57 constituencies, including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha. Voting is being held amid a severe heatwave 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 in Jharkhand, besides Chandigarh. Polling for the remaining 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha and bypolls to six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh are also taking place simultaneously. Saturday's voting will mark the end of the marathon polling process that began on April 1

Widespread violence in Sandeshkhali in final phase of LS polls in Bengal

Widespread violence between TMC and BJP supporters over alleged electoral malpractices was reported during polling in strife-torn Sandeshkhali region of Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency on Saturday, resulting in numerous injuries. Police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas shelling to control the situation. In the remaining eight parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal, which went to the polls in the seventh and final phase, sporadic incidents of violence were reported. Although the poll panel claimed that voting has been peaceful so far, it said it has received 1,899 complaints until 2 pm from different political parties alleging EVM malfunctions and agents being stopped from entering booths. Around 58.46 per cent of over 1.63 crore voters exercised their franchise till 3 pm of polling to the nine Lok Sabha seats, an Election Commission official said. Clashes broke out between supporters of the TMC, ISF and the BJP in different pockets of the state as the parties clashed over

400 Dumka villagers boycott voting over coal dumping yard construction

Over 400 people in a village in Dumka district boycotted voting in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday to protest against the construction of a coal dumping yard, an official said. A total of 426 voters did not exercise their franchise at booth number 94 in Bagdubhi village, a part of the Dumka Lok Sabha constituency, he said. Out of 430 voters enrolled in the booth, only four electors have exercised their franchise till 3 pm, Dumka Circle Officer Amar Kumar told PTI. He said the villagers have been protesting against the construction of the Railways' coal dumping yard. Sub-divisional Officer Ajay Kumar held a meeting with the villagers and assured them of raising the issue with higher authorities. However, they did not agree to vote. A representative of the village, Lakshman Soren, told PTI, We made it clear that if the SDO gives us an assurance in writing to stop the construction of the yard, we will go to cast our votes. But, we were not given any suc

Congress takes a U-turn, says will participate in exit poll debates today

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera had earlier said the Congress will not participate in today's exit poll debates and questioned the need of engaging in speculation to boost the TRPs of TV channels

Deaths rising, govt must declare heatwave 'national calamity': Rajasthan HC

The single-judge Bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand said the time has come for heat and cold waves to be declared a national disaster

Lok Sabha elections Phase 7: 49.68% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

Lok Sabha polls 2024 Phase 7 voter turnout: At more than 60 per cent, Jharkhand recorded the highest voter turnout at 3 pm, Bihar had the lowest at 42.95 per cent

Exit poll 2024: Date, time & where to watch Lok Sabha election exit polls?

Here's when and where to watch the Lok Sabha elections exit poll results 2024

INDIA bloc leaders meet to discuss strategy for counting day, TMC skips

Senior leaders of the INDIA bloc met here on Saturday to discuss their strategy for the counting of votes on June 4, even as the TMC and PDP skipped the meeting. Senior leaders of the Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, JMM, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) met at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Saturday afternoon and held discussions, even as the last phase of polling was underway. TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already said they would not attend the meeting as there were elections in the state, while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti did not attend the meeting due to personal reasons. "I may not go as my mom has undergone an eye surgery," she had told PTI. Opposition leaders who attended the meeting included Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Anil Desai, Sitaram Yechury, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwat Mann, Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, Champai Soren, Kalpana Soren, T R Baalu, Farooq Abdullah, D Raja and Muk

What is Israeli firm STOIC and how it tried to disrupt Lok Sabha polls 2024

OpenAI, in a key report, revealed that an Israeli-based political campaign management firm STOIC tried to meddle with the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in India