In a remarkable display of democratic spirit, voters of the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir achieved a record turnout during the sixth phase of polling on May 25, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend his special congratulations.
The constituency recorded a voter turnout of about 54.84%, which PM Modi hailed as a vibrant testament to their commitment to democracy in a post on social media this morning.
Overall, the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls witnessed a turnout of 61.01% across 58 constituencies spread across eight states and Union territories, according to data from the Election Commission (EC).
As the high-octane election campaign enters its final leg ahead of the seventh phase of polls on June 1, political leaders from various parties are intensifying their efforts with public meetings and rallies across the polling states today.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address three public meetings in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar, Salempur, and Chandauli, which are set to go to polls in the final phase.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be campaigning in Bihar, where he is scheduled to hold rallies in Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, and Arrah constituencies. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also address two public meetings in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba and Shahpur.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to extend his interim bail by seven days. He is expected to surrender on June 2 as per the bail granted to him on May 10 to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
According to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kejriwal has lost about seven kilograms of weight since his arrest, with high ketone levels in his body. AAP stated that these could be symptoms of a serious disease and that he needs to undergo a PET-CT scan and other tests.
In Punjab’s Jalandhar parliamentary constituency, a keen political contest is anticipated as former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and three other turncoats vie for the seat reserved for Scheduled Castes.
The Congress has placed its bet on Dalit leader and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, who is an MLA from Chamkaur Sahib seat in Rupnagar district.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded two-time former Akali MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu, who joined the state's ruling party in April.
The BJP has chosen sitting MP Sushil Rinku, who switched from AAP to BJP to contest from the Jalandhar seat. Rinku had earlier quit the Congress and joined the AAP.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Sukhbir Singh Badal has fielded former Punjab Congress chief and former MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee from the constituency. Kaypee recently switched allegiance from the Congress to the SAD.
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