India's 18th Lok Sabha Polls Conclude with Clashes, High Voter Turnout

The marathon polling process for India's 18th Lok Sabha ended with the seventh phase, witnessing a 62.36% voter turnout amid clashes in West Bengal. BJP and TMC supporters clashed in several constituencies. All eyes are now on June 4 for the vote count. Exit polls predict a comfortable majority for BJP-led NDA.

The marathon polling process to elect India's 18th Lok Sabha concluded on Saturday, marked by a voter turnout of 62.36 per cent in the seventh phase, amidst violent clashes between TMC and BJP supporters in Sandeshkhali and other parts of West Bengal.

In this phase, 57 constituencies, including Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third term, went to the polls. As per the Election Commission's app, the estimated last phase polling percentage surpassed the 61 per cent recorded in the equivalent phase in the 2019 polls.

Attention now shifts to June 4 when vote counting commences. Polling for assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will be counted on June 2. Meanwhile, clashes were reported in multiple constituencies. In Bengal's Sandeshkhali, police had to use force to disperse TMC and BJP supporters. Prime Minister Modi made a call to voters to exercise their franchise, emphasizing that a record turnout strengthens democracy.