Campaigning for last phase of Lok Sabha polls ends today

 Continuing with his practice of visiting a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site on the culmination of the poll campaign, PM Narendra Modi will meditate in Kanyakumari for two days from May 30 to June 1 after logging out of the intense electioneering.

Sources said the PM will visit the Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari and meditate at the Dhyan Mandapam from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at the same place where Swami Vivekananda had meditated. It was here that Vivekananda was said to have had a vision and received enlightenment which steeled his belief in India's intrinsic strengths and that the country was destined to regain the glory it lost after coming under foreign occupation and because of internal weaknesses. The last phase of voting is scheduled on May 1.

"This rock had a major impact on Swami Vivekananda's life. People believe that like Sarnath holds a special place in the life of Gautam Buddha, this rock holds a similar place in the life of Swami Vivekananda. "It was here that he arrived after wandering across the country, meditated for three days and attained a vision for a developed India," a BJP source said, explaining the choice of Kanyakumari.

"Meditating at the same place shows PM Modi's commitment to bringing Swami ji's vision of a Viksit Bharat to life," a senior BJP functionary said. "It also shows the PM's deep commitment and love for Tamil Nadu that he is visiting the state even after elections are over," he added.

Kanyakumari also holds great significance for Hindus because, according to mythology, Goddess Parvati meditated at the same place on one foot as she waited for Lord Shiva.

In 2019, after the poll campaign had come to an end, Modi had visited Kedarnath, one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas, and meditated inside a cave.

The PM is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. In 2014, he visited Pratapgarh in Maharashtra and paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji who had won a crucial battle in Nov 1659 after slaying Afzal Khan, the general of Adilshahi Sultans of Bijapur. His victory cleared the way for his coronation as the head of the Maratha empire which the Chhatrapati termed Hindavi Swaraj.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha to take immediate action against Nandighosha TV as per the existing provisions for telecasting exit poll results in Odisha.Exit polls are prohibited under section 126A of the RP Act 1951. ECI had notified the prohibited period from April 19, 2024 (7 am) to June 1, 2024 (6:30 pm) vide its order dated March 28, 2024.

India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Continuing his tradition of visiting significant Hindu pilgrimage sites at the culmination of his campaign efforts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to spend two days meditating in Kanyakumari from May 30 to June 1.