Amidst a heightened political enthusiasm, the voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections kicked off on April 19 across 21 states and union territories with incidents of violence and disruption witnessed in the states of Manipur and Tripura. Notably, while six polling officers have been reportedly suspended in Kerala over the violation of model code of conduct, six Nagaland districts have boycotted polls demanding for separate territory.
The voting for the first phase started across 102 constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram. Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. The voting, which started at 8:00 am, will continue till 5:00 pm, with an additional hour allotted for voters already in line.
More than 16.63 crore voters including 8 crore men and women each are being expected to cast their votes today.
Approximately 39.9% voter turnaround has been witnessed till 1:00 pm on Friday. Notably, 39.5% voter turnaround was witnessed in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in 2019. Statewise, the eastern state of West Bengal (51%) witnessed the highest voter turnaround. This was followed by Meghalaya (48.9%), Manipur (46.9%), Assam (45.1%), Jammu and Kashmir (43.1%), Puducherry (45%), and Madhya Pradesh (44.4%).
In this first phase, attention is particularly drawn to high-profile seats and notable candidates vying for electoral success. Among these figures are eight Union ministers including road and transport minister Nitin Gadkari and Kiren Rijiju, two former chief ministers, and a former governor, all poised to test their fortunes in the electoral arena. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Gadkari seeks a third term in Nagpur, pitted against Congress's Vikas Thakare. Meanwhile, Rijiju is contesting elections in Arunachal Pradesh-West against Nabam Tuki from Congress.
Notably, Nakul Nath, the son of former union minister Kamal Nath, is seeking a re-election in Chhindwara against a BJP candidate. Nath is touted to be amongst the richest candidates in this general election with assets standing at ₹716 crore, as per the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Ahead of the elections, the country’s two major political party—incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC)— released their manifesto last week with an aim to lure young voters in the ongoing general elections.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases across 543 parliamentary constituencies. The results of polls will be announced on June 4. The model code of conduct is into effect beginning the evening of March 16 and will remain in effect till June 1.
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