DHAKA: One of India's most bitterly fought elections comes to a close Monday with voting in Varanasi, featuring two of the most watched politicians in the country - Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal - and 40 other constituencies across three states.
The results will be declared on Friday.
Over nine crore voters are expected to vote for 606 candidates in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar the ninth and final phase of the marathon election that began on April 7, reports the NDTV.
Campaigning ended on Saturday with a number of high profile visits to Varanasi, the most high profile battleground of this election. Rahul Gandhi campaigned for Congress candidate Ajai Rai with a roadshow that was seen as payback for Modi's campaign in his Amethi a week before. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also campaigned in the holy town.
Varanasi is among 18 seats of Uttar Pradesh voting Monday. Of these, ruling Samajwadi Party has six seats, BSP five, BJP four and Congress three.
Voting is also being held in 17 seats in West Bengal. 14 of those constituencies are currently held by the Trinamool Congress of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In neighbouring Bihar, six seats are polling.
Other prominent candidates today are Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is contesting from Azamgarh, Union Minister Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, Union Minister R P N Singh and former minister and RJD leader Raghuvanh Prasad Singh.
The final stages of the campaign saw a confrontation between the BJP and the Election Commission over the refusal of permission for Modi's rally in the heart of Varanasi. The BJP leader then retaliated with a three hour drive-through in the city.
An average of 66 per cent voted in the last eight phases, a record turnout that has surpassed the previous 66.27 per cent voting record in 1984. The 2009 elections recorded a 57.94 per cent turnout.
Opinion polls predict that the BJP, led by Modi, will win the most number of seats but it is not clear whether it will land a majority with its existing allies.
After two straight terms, the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, is seen to be staring at its worst defeat in recent times.
BDST: 0845 HRS, MAY 12, 2014
