Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cast his vote at a polling booth in Gorakhpur’s Gorakhnath on Saturday, marking his participation in the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The key contenders for this seat include BJP’s Ravi Kishan, SP’s Kajal Nishad, and BSP’s Javed Ashraf.
Ravi Kishan’s Appeal for ‘Ramrajya’
BJP candidate and actor-turned-politician Ravi Kishan made a passionate appeal to voters, urging them to cast their votes to build a “Self-reliant India – Developed India” and to realize the concept of ‘Ramrajya’. In a post on X, Kishan wrote, “Today is the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. My appeal to the respected voters is that you must vote to build a ‘Self-reliant India – Developed India’ and realize the concept of ‘Ramrajya’. Your one vote will become the basis for the bright future of the coming generations.”
Ravi Kishan is heavily relying on the support of CM Yogi Adityanath, who served five terms as MP from the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency. Earlier, Yogi Adityanath held a roadshow in Gorakhpur to garner support for Kishan.
The Challengers: Kajal Nishad and Javed Ashraf
SP candidate Kajal Nishad, known for her work in the Bhojpuri film industry and TV soaps like “Lapataganj,” is entering her first major political contest in these elections. Her entry adds a new dynamic to the race, with her popularity in the entertainment industry potentially influencing voter sentiment.
BSP’s Javed Ashraf is also in the running, making the contest a closely watched three-way battle.
The Significance of the Seventh Phase
The seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections marks the culmination of the world’s largest polling marathon, which began on the 19th of last month and has covered six phases and 486 Lok Sabha seats.
Prominent Candidates in the Final Phase
Among the notable candidates in this phase are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nishikant Dubey, and Ravneet Singh Bittu, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Charanjit Singh Channi, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Misa Bharti.
Looking Back: 2019 Lok Sabha Elections
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Ravi Kishan secured a decisive victory against Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Rambhual Nishad with a margin of 3,01,664 votes. This phase is expected to be equally crucial, with heavyweights from various parties vying for dominance in the final stretch.
As the election fever reaches its peak, the final phase will determine the future political landscape of India, with the hopes and aspirations of millions hanging in the balance.
