New Delhi: As voting for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha election 2024 continued on Saturday, voters have been lining up across the country to exercise their franchise.
Several specially-abled individuals have stepped forward to participate in the democratic process.
Among the voters was an 85-year-old person with disabilities (PwD) in Odisha's Baripada, who was brought to the polling booth to cast his vote.
After voting, he emphasized the importance of every individual participating in the democratic process.
An eyewitness said, "When I reached to vote, I saw that a disabled voter was provided with a wheelchair and taken to the polling booth. After voting, they were dropped back at the entrance. I was very happy to see this. It was the first time I saw such arrangements.
Perhaps similar arrangements were made at all the booths. I am very pleased with the government for making such provisions."
In Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli, another PwD voter, Pooja, arrived at the polling booth on a tricycle to cast her vote.
Additionally, in a unique display of voter awareness, a man arrived on a horse at a polling station in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, to cast his vote.
He says, "In the 2012, 2017 and 2022 assembly elections and 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls also I had arrived on horse to cast my vote."
The seventh and the final phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections on June 1 across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh saw a voter turnout of 40.09 per cent till 1 pm, the Election Commission (ECI) said on Saturday.
As per the ECI, Himachal Pradesh recorded a high voter turnout at 48.63 per cent till 1 pm.
Other states where polling is underway in the sixth phase are Bihar- 35.65 per cent, Chandigarh--40.14 per cent, Jharkhand--46.80 per cent, Odisha--37.64 per cent, Punjab--37.80 per cent, Uttar Pradesh--39.31 and West Bengal--45.07 per cent.
The seventh and final phase of polling in the largest festival of democracy started on Saturday at 7 am in the last 57 parliamentary constituencies across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
According to the Election Commission of India, over 10.06 crore electors including approximately 5.24 crore male, 4.82 crore female and 3574 third gender electors are expected to exercise their franchise.
All 13 parliamentary constituencies of Punjab are voting on Saturday in the last phase.Six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh have also gone to polls today. The outcome will have a bearing on the Congress government in the state.
All six seats going to the polls were held by Congress and MLAs from these seats cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls.
Polling for the remaining 42 Assembly Constituencies of the Odisha State Legislative Assembly is also underway.
After the conclusion of voting, the outcome of exit polls will be aired on various TV channels.
The Election Commission has issued a ban on exit polls from 7 am on April 19 to 6:30 pm on June 1, till the conclusion of polling. The high-voltage campaigning for the final phase of Lok Sabha polls ended on Thursday.
During the long campaign for seven-phased Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi held more than 200 campaign events, which included rallies and roadshows, in 75 days. He also gave several interviews.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held more than 100 rallies and public interaction programmes like Nyay Sammelans and Nyay Manch' in Lok Sabha Polls.
Polling for the earlier six phases of Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20 and May 25. Assembly polls have also been held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Odisha is also seeing simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases. (ANI)
