Final Phase Of Lok Sabha Elections: PM Modi, Kangana Ranaut, Abhishek Banerjee, Anurag Thakur In Fray

The voting for seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections for 57 seats in eight states and union territories has begun today (1 June).

Constituencies across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, and the Union territory of Chandigarh are undergoing polling for the final round to elect the 18th Lok Sabha.

The polling is being held in 13 seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, nine seats in West Bengal, eight seats in Bihar, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Himachal Pradesh, three seats in Jharkhand and the lone seat in Chandigarh.

Several key candidates are contesting in the seventh phase, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur, actress Kangana Ranaut, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

Key Candidates and Constituencies:

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting from Varanasi, aiming for a third term. Six other candidates, including Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai, are also trying their luck from the constituency.

Mandi, Himachal Pradesh:

Actress turned politician Kangana Ranaut is contesting the Mandi Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket. Ranaut's main competitor is Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh, son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Patna Sahib, Bihar:

Senior BJP leader and incumbent MP Ravi Shankar Prasad is vying to retain his Patna Sahib seat. Congress has fielded Anshul Avijit, the son of former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, to challenge Prasad.

Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh:

Sitting MP and Union minister Anurag Thakur will contest from Hamirpur, hoping to retain his seat. He faces Congress candidate Satpal Raizada, a close confidante of Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Diamond Harbour, West Bengal:

TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee is contesting from the Diamond Harbour seat. Abhishek had won the seat in 2014 and 2019 and is contesting for the third time from the constituency. BJP has fielded Abhijit Das against Banerjee from the seat.

Jalandhar, Punjab:

In Jalandhar, former Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi is contesting. BJP has fielded Sushil Kumar Rinku from the seat, while AAP has fielded Pawan Kumar Tinu to contest the seat.