Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to cast their ballot in record numbers as polling in 59 parliamentary constituencies across eight states in the seventh and the final phase of the Lok Sabha election began on Sunday.

“Today is the final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. I urge all those voting in this phase to vote in record numbers. Your one vote will shape India’s development trajectory in the years to come. I also hope first time voters vote enthusiastically (sic),” PM Modi tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi is also in the fray in the last lap of the election in the temple town of Varanasi.

Today is the final phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. I urge all those voting in this phase to vote in record numbers. Your one vote will shape India’s development trajectory in the years to come. I also hope first time voters vote enthusiastically.

— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 19, 2019

The eight states and one Union territory — Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal — are polling in the seventh phase of the election on Sunday.

Also Watch | Big fights to watch out for in final phase of voting

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won 33 out of the 59 Lok Sabha seats, where voting is taking place, in the 2014 elections. Its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had won an additional seven seats. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had won just five of these parliamentary constituencies.

The votes will be counted on May 23.

First Published: May 19, 2019 07:40 IST