Campaigning for the seventh and the final phase of Lok Sabha polls ended this evening. Fifty-nine constituencies spread over seven states and one union territory will go to polls in this phase.

Star campaigners of various political parties made their last ditch efforts to woo the voters on the last day of campaigning. Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Madhya Pradesh. Addressing a public meeting in Khargone, he reiterated his commitment to provide regular monthly pension to farmers, small shopkeepers, farm labourers and people above 60 years of age.

He said that monetary assistance will be given to all the farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Scheme, if the BJP returns to power. The Prime Minister said, his government is working towards the goal of doubling the income of farmers by 2022. He added that till the BJP is in power, nobody can touch the land of those living in forests.

In West Bengal, the election campaign was curtailed by a day as per the directives of the Election Commission owing to the violent incidents in the state. Voting has already been held for 32 out of total 40 seats in Bihar and 11 out of total 14 seats in Jharkhand during the earlier phases. There are 157 candidates are in the fray for eight seats in Bihar while 42 candidates are vying for three seats in Jharkhand which are going to polls on coming Sunday during this phase.

In case of Bihar, the prominent candidates include Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Ram Kripal Yadav, Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Raj Kumar Singh along with Chhedi Paswan from Bharatiya Janata Party, Kaushalendra Kumar from Janata Dal (United). Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and actor Shatrughan Sinha from Congress, former Union Minister and Rashtria Lok Samata Party Chief Upendra Kushwaha , ex-State Minister Jagdanand Singh and Misa Bharti of Rashtriya Janata Dal and Raju Yadav of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) are also among the major candidates in the fray.

In Jharkhand, Nishikant Dubey and Sunil Soren of BJP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Chief Shibu Soren, along with Jharkhand Vikas Morcha nominees Pradeep Yadav and Vijay Kumar Hansdak are amongst the prominent contestants.

In Himachal Pradesh, addressing a public rally in Solan, Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the Prime Minister on the issue of demonetisation. In Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led a road show in Mirzapur and Kushinagar.

BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani held a bike rally in Gorakhpur. BJP leaders and union ministers Colonal Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Piyush Goel campigned in Varanasi from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking re-election.

SP-BSP-RLD alliance held a joint rally in Mirzapur today. BSP chief Mayawati said that both the BJP and Congress have made false promises. Speaking at the rally, she said that poor and downtrodden are feeling oppressed in BJP rule. The alliance also held a public meeting at Chandauli later in the day.

In Punjab and Chandigarh, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today addressed an election rally at Hoshiarpur, where he said that development and curbing corruption were priorities of Modi Government. Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu addressed a rally at Lambi village.

The seventh and final phase will cover 13 seats in Uttar Pradesh; all 13 in Punjab; nine in West Bengal; eight each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh; all four constituencies in Himachal Pradesh; three in Jharkhand and the lone seat of Chandigarh.

Counting of votes will take place on the 23rd of this month.