Follow our live blog for updates on the 2024 Lok Sabha election results in Varanasi. PM Narendra Modi leads comfortably in votes. Stay tuned for real-time updates, reactions, and analysis. Varanasi, a key constituency in Uttar Pradesh, voted in the final phase on June 1, marking Modi's third contest there.

Early Lok Sabha results favor the BJP-led NDA in Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal, reflecting the coalition's strong presence and strategic alliances. Voter confidence in the ruling coalition's governance is evident. These trends highlight dynamic political shifts and alliances, shaping electoral outcomes in the eastern states of India.

In early trends, TDP crosses halfway in Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, with YSR Congress trailing at 10 seats. In Odisha, BJP leads with 28 seats, while BJD lags. Odisha's Assembly elections for 147 seats coincided with Lok Sabha polls. Key contenders include YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, and Pawan Kalyan.

Live updates from the 2024 Indian General Elections show the INDIA bloc gaining over 200 seats, while the NDA is on track to secure a majority. Key leaders like Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi are leading. The NDA is performing well in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, aiming for 400 seats.

Amid criticism of extending Lok Sabha elections into June during intense heatwaves, the Chief Election Commissioner acknowledged the challenge. He stated that future elections should conclude before summer, learning from the difficulties faced this year with the seven-phase elections extending through the heat of April and May.

T Raja Singh predicted that BJP’s candidate from Hyderabad constituency, Madhavi Latha, will lose the election against AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi. Raja Singh said, “Madhavi Latha had put up a great fight in Hyderabad. Unfortunately, we feared bogus voting which happened in large numbers at all booths. Hindu votes were cast by Muslims. Votes of Hindu women were cast by burqa-clad people. Local police stand in support of Asaduddin Owaisi. Asaduddin Owaisi and his brother have a strategy of taking support from the government of Telangana, be it any party. The results don't seem in our favor. This time I also think we are going to fail.”

To ensure the smooth conduct of Karnataka Legislative Council elections in Bengaluru, the administration has prohibited the sale of liquor on voting day. MLC elections polling will be held on June 3, and counting votes will be held on June 6.

In an interview with PTI, Modi said he has never uttered a word against minorities, and the BJP has "not just today but never" acted against them. He, however, made it clear that he is not ready to accept anyone as "special citizens". But the opposition on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "never uttered a word against minorities" remark, saying he is "lying" as he is "unleashing hate speech" against Muslims from every available forum. Reacting to the prime minister's remarks, CPI general secretary D Raja said, "It is completely lie. Modi knows how they (BJP) have been talking about Muslims. Who spoke about mangalsutra, mothers giving births to more children? Muslims and other minorities have been disrespected and deprived of many of their due rights." "Not only Hindus and Muslims, he makes Hindus fight with each other as well. First make Hindus fight with Muslims, then make Hindus fight with Sikhs, then with Christians, then make them fight Buddhists, make Marathas fight non-Marathas, make Dalits fight backwards. This is Bharatiya 'jhagda' party and this is their job," AAP MP Sanjay Singh said.

As the Lok Sabha election approaches its fifth phase on May 20, a Mumbai man was confronted with an unexpected situation: his mother's voter ID card, issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), had no name on it. In complete surprise, the Reddit user said that his mother's name, which was in Marathi (Maharashtra's language), was not put on the voter identification card.