New Delhi Voting will be held on June 1 for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the country. After this, the election results will be announced on June 4. Earlier, the Election Commission had announced the Lok Sabha elections on March 16. The code of conduct came into force after the announcement of the election. After this, the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led India Alliance started sharpening their election strategy. In this seven-phase election, the Congress raised the issues of unemployment, inflation, caste census as well as saving the Constitution among the public. At the same time, the NDA government put the achievements of the Modi government in the public in 10 years. Along with this, PM Modi accused the Congress of Muslim appeasement. Modi said that Congress will snatch the mangalsutra of poor women if it comes to power. People’s properties will be distributed among those who have more children. Apart from this, many issues dominated. Let us know what were the major events of these 7 phase elections.

First phase: Bill Gates took an interview amidst the fiery rally

PM Modi had done more than 20 rallies and road shows in the first 10 days of April before the first phase of voting. Apart from this, he/she gave interviews in many news channels and magazines. Before this, Microsoft founder Bill Gates also interviewed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this, he/she discussed science, health sector, climate and many other issues. PM Modi himself gave information about the interview with Bill Gates on his/her social media platform X. During this, PM Modi also met many prominent gaming creators on Wednesday. These included Animesh Aggarwal, Mithilesh Patankar, Payal Dhare, Naman Mathur and Anshu Bisht. Meanwhile, on April 5, Congress also released its manifesto. The manifesto included 5 justice and 25 guarantees. On April 14, BJP released the manifesto. At the same time, before the first phase of voting, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) started the ‘Jail Ka Jawaab Vote Se’ campaign to seek public support for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the party, who is lodged in Tihar Jail.

Second phase: Mangalsutra entered the election campaign

In the second phase, Congress and BJP attacked each other more. In this phase, Mangalsutra made an entry in the election campaign from BJP’s side. Citing the Congress manifesto, Prime Minister Modi alleged in an election rally in Rajasthan that if Congress comes to power, it can distribute people’s property to intruders and those who have more children. PM Modi also reminded of the statement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in which Singh had said that Muslims have the first right on the resources of the country. After this, Prime Minister Modi was seen continuously raising this issue and alleging that if Congress comes to power, it will snatch away even the Mangalsutra from women. However, Congress called this allegation completely baseless. BJP said that Congress has committed the ‘sin of doing injustice’ to the Dalits, backward and tribals of the country by ‘depriving’ them of their rights for 70 years. BJP said that Congress will be punished for this in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, in the second phase, Congress appealed to the people to save the Constitution and use their vote for inclusive development. Rahul Gandhi had appealed to the people to come out of their homes as ‘constitution soldiers’ to protect democracy. On the other hand, BJP targeted the opposition alliance over reservation.

Phase 3: Prajwal Revanna’s alleged sex video

Before the third phase of polling, several alleged sex videos of former PM HD Deve Gowda’s grandson and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna were leaked. Cases of rape and molestation were registered against Prajwal. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the sex video case involving Revanna. his/her father and MLA HD Revanna was arrested on charges of kidnapping a woman and sent to police custody. Prajwal left the country on April 27, a day after the polling. A ‘Blue Corner’ notice was issued against him/her. After this, the Congress got an easy opportunity to attack the BJP. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah issued orders for the arrest of Prajwal Revanna on May 4. The special thing is that PM Modi himself had held a rally in support of Prajwal Revanna and sought votes. Prajwal had said in a Facebook post on May 1 that he/she would return to India in seven days, but there were no signs of Prajwal returning. However, now Prajwal is said to be returning to India on May 31.

Fourth phase: Kejriwal’s release from jail…roadshow

The Supreme Court released Arvind Kejriwal, who was in jail for the alleged scam related to the Delhi liquor policy, on interim bail till June 1. The court ordered Kejriwal to surrender and return to jail on June 2. This bail was granted by the court to Kejriwal to campaign for the elections. After Kejriwal’s release, the entire opposition faction of India Alliance welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. From Congress, TMC to DMK, it was called a victory of justice. After Kejriwal’s release, AAP workers welcomed their leader with full enthusiasm. The CM offered prayers at the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place the next day after his/her release. After this, he/she did a road show in support of AAP candidate Sahi Ram Pehelwan from South Delhi parliamentary seat. AAP leaders and workers participated in large numbers in the road show. After the road show ended, Kejriwal said that I have come directly to you after being released from jail. I used to miss the people of Delhi a lot. I want to thank the crores of people who prayed and sent blessings for me. Kejriwal did his/her second road show late in the evening in support of AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar from East Delhi.

Fifth phase: PM’s prediction about the stock market

Before the fifth phase of polling, PM Modi made a prediction about the stock market. In an interview to a TV channel, PM Modi said that after the results of June 4, the Sensex will rise so much that even the programmers of the stock market will get tired. PM Modi said that in his/her 10-year tenure, the Sensex has made a wonderful journey from 25 to 75 thousand. Prime Minister Modi said that the result of the Lok Sabha elections will come on June 4. You will see in a week that all those who programme the Indian stock market will get tired. PM Modi had said where the shares of the public sector undertaking companies have reached. This share was meant to fall. Now their prices are rising in the stock market.

Step 6: Voting figures and Form 17C

In the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition raised questions over the delay in releasing the final voting figures by the Election Commission. The matter reached the Supreme Court. The Election Commission told the Supreme Court that the ‘indiscriminate disclosure’ of polling booth-wise voting percentage data and posting it on the website would create chaos in the electoral machinery. The Commission said that the details of Form 17C, which gives the number of votes cast in a polling station, cannot be made public. This can create chaos in the entire electoral system as it increases the possibility of tampering with the photographs. The Commission said this in an affidavit filed in response to a petition by an NGO. The petition requested the Commission to direct the uploading of polling booth-wise figures on the website within 48 hours of the conclusion of polling for each phase of the Lok Sabha. The Election Commission released Lok Sabha constituency-wise data on the number of votes cast in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha elections on May 25. The Commission said that no change is possible in the number of votes cast. A day earlier, the apex court had dismissed a plea of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) seeking direction to the Election Commission to upload polling station-wise voting percentage data on its website.

Seventh phase: Modi’s marathon election campaign also ends

In this Lok Sabha election, while the big leaders of the opposition were busy in election campaign, PM Modi conducted a marathon election campaign on behalf of BJP. PM Modi conducted 206 election programs in seven phases. During this period, the Prime Minister gave interviews to more than 80 media channels, newspapers, YouTubers, online media. During the entire election campaign, Narendra Modi was seen competing with everyone with his/her energy. The PM started the election campaign from Palnadu in Andhra Pradesh. he/she ended his/her election campaign on 30 May in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. In this period of 75 days, PM Modi conducted 180 rallies and road shows. On an average, every day PM Modi participated in more than two rallies and road shows along with programs. PM Modi had conducted 15 rallies till 15th of February and March before the announcement of elections in March.

From Mangalsutra, Muslim, temple, inflation to constitution… 18th Lok Sabha election campaign ends, know what happened in 7 phases