Today marks the beginning of the Lok Sabha polls 2024 (2024 election), which the BJP has billed as a milestone leading to 2047, and which the Opposition views as a battle for democracy’s survival. The first phase of the 7-phase exercise is underway, with voting taking place in 102 seats across 21 states and Union Territories.
Also Read: Lok Sabha 2024: BJP Booth President Injured In West Bengal’s Cooch Behar
In the first phase of polls, voters are casting their ballots across multiple states and Union Territories. Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Lakshadweep each have varying numbers of seats up for election, totaling 102 seats across 21 regions. In addition, five seats each are contested in Assam and Maharashtra, four seats in Bihar, three seats in West Bengal, two seats in Manipur, and one seat each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh.
Apart from the Lok Sabha elections, four states—Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh—are also choosing new assemblies simultaneously. Notably, Arunachal Pradesh (with 60 seats) and Sikkim (with 32 seats) are among the states beginning this electoral process.
Election Voter Count Day 1
By 5 pm, voter turnout had reached 59.7%, with individual states such as Tamil Nadu recording 63.2%, Rajasthan 50.3%, Uttar Pradesh 57.5%, and Madhya Pradesh 63.3%. In the states conducting both Lok Sabha and state polls together, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh reported turnouts of 67.5% and 64.7%, respectively.
Incidents of unrest were reported in various regions during the voting process. In Cooch Behar, West Bengal, clashes erupted between Trinamool Congress and BJP workers, with both sides accusing each other of violence and electoral malpractice. In Manipur, gunfire was reported at a polling station in Bishnupur, while a polling station in Imphal East district was vandalized. Tragically, two elderly individuals, including a 77-year-old woman, passed away at polling booths in Salem district, Tamil Nadu.
The BJP has mounted an energetic campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, aiming to secure a significant number of Lok Sabha seats, with a target of 370 out of 543. The party is also looking to strengthen its position in various states, especially in the northeast, the Hindi heartland, and southern states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Conversely, the opposition bloc INDIA has faced challenges but is striving for unity, particularly following key developments such as the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Key leaders from both sides are actively engaging in intense electoral battles, and the counting of votes on June 4 will reveal the results.
Also Read: Lok Sabha 2024: Voting Halted In Bihar’s Sheikhpura Due To Glitch In EVM
