The Lok Sabha 2024 is in motion as the first phase of elections are underway Friday, 19 April, in 102 constituencies in 21 states and UTs.
Dharmapuri LS segment witnessed the highest voter turnout of 67.52 percent, while South Chennai recorded the lowest of 57.04 percent. (ECI Website)
The Lok Sabha 2024 juggernaut kickstarted with its first phase concluding on Friday, 19 April in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs.
The Narendra Modi-led NDA is determined to return for its third term in office. The Opposition INDIA Bloc puts up an equally resistant fight to unseat the 10-year incumbent.
The focus of the first phase is Tamil Nadu and its 39 seats.
At 5 pm on Friday, the EC provisionally put the voter turnout at 62.65 percent.
Around 59.02 percent of the 57,784 voters in the lone Lok Sabha constituency in Lakshadweep have exercised their franchise till 5 pm on Friday, officials said.
People in queue to cast their votes in the Andrott island in Lakshadweep, (Supplied)
A voter turnout of 77.57 percent was recorded till 5 pm in the three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal where elections were held in the first phase on Friday, an official said.
Polling started at 7 am in Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars seats, where a total of 56.26 lakh people are eligible to vote, they said.
"Till 5 pm, the voter turnout in Coochbehar was 77.73 percent, while that in Jalpaiguri was 79.33 percent, and in Alipurduars was 75.54 percent," an election official said.
A voter turnout of 54.85 percent was recorded till 5 pm in the five Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the first phase of the general elections on Friday, an official said.
The turnout stood at 64.95 percent in Gadchiroli-Chimur till 5 pm, followed by Bhandara-Gondia at 56.87 percent, Chandrapur at 55.11 percent, Nagpur at 47.91 percent and Ramtek at 52.38 percent.
The unique Malogam polling station in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh recorded cent percent polling with the lone female voter, exercising her constitutional right on Friday, officials said.
The 44-year-old Sokela Tayang cast her vote around 1 pm, a district official said.
For the single voter, a team of polling officials trekked nearly 40 km on foot through treacherous terrain and set up a voting booth in the remote polling station.
“I am delighted to exercise my franchise and thanked the election authorities for giving me the opportunity to cast my vote,” Sokela said.
An average voter turnout of 57.54 percent was recorded till 5 pm on Friday in eight western Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha constituencies where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election.
The polling began at 7 am.
According to the Election Commission (EC), till 5 pm, 63.29 percent voting was reported in Saharanpur, 57.65 percent in Moradabad, 58.68 percent in Kairana, 58.05 percent in Nagina, 60.23 percent in Pilibhit, 54.68 percent in Bijnor, 52.42 percent in Rampur and 54.91 percent in Muzaffarnagar.
Around 46.32 percent of the 75 lakh voters in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar have exercised their franchise till 5 pm on Friday, officials said.
The polling began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm, a senior election official said.
Tight security arrangements were in place at Nawada and Aurangabad, besides the reserved seats of Gaya and Jamui, where a majority of nearly 5,000 polling booths have been marked as "sensitive".
Over 49.95 percent voters have exercised their franchise in Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency, 48.54 percent in Gaya, 47.09 percent in Jamui and 40.20 percent in Nawada till 5 pm, officials said.
An estimated 56.87 percent of the total 3,15,148 voters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands exercised their franchise till 5 pm on Friday for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union territory, an official said.
Speaking to PTI, Returning Officer Arjun Sharma said, "It’s good to see that a large number of voters including elderly and physically challenged people turned up despite hot and humid weather. Every ballot is a testament to unity and participation. Voting will continue till 7 pm."
More than 53 per cent polling was recorded till 5 pm on Friday in the five Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttarakhand, officials here said.
The voting began at 7 am and the five constituencies recorded an overall poll percentage of 53.56 at 5 pm, when polling ended, the officials said. They added that those already standing in the queues will be allowed to exercise their franchise.
The Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar seat recorded the highest voter turnout of 59.36 pe cent, followed by Haridwar (59.01 percent), Tehri Garhwal (51.01 percent), Pauri Garhwal (48.79 percent) and Almora (44.43 percent).
The final voter turnout in the 2019 general election in Uttarakhand was 61.48 percent.
A voter turnout of more than 63 percent was recorded till 5 pm on Friday in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which saw the death of a CRPF constable after a grenade accidentally went off and injury to an officer in an IED blast, officials said.
Polling in the Bastar seat started at 7 am and was held in different time slots amid tight security in the first phase of the elections.
A voter turnout of 63.41 percent turnout was registered till 5 pm, an election official said.
The voter turnout in the vast constituency stood at 66.04 percent in 2019.
Polling for the 2024 general election ended at 6 pm on Friday in all the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu with the state recording a provisional voter turnout of 63.20 percent.
Election authorities citing data available for 5 pm said Dharmapuri LS segment witnessed the highest voter turnout of 67.52 percent, while South Chennai recorded the lowest of 57.04 percent.
The by-poll to Vilavancode Assembly Constituency in Kanyakumari district recorded a polling of 56.68 percent. The final data on polling recorded in the state from 7 am till 6 pm is expected to be updated by officials soon.
Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 67.46 percent till 5 pm.
The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, which comprises 32 of the 60 Assembly segments in the state, recorded 71.01 percent turnout, while 15 of the 28 assembly segments of Outer Manipur that went to polls during the day registered a turnout of 61.12 percent.
In Outer Manipur, Chandel, which has Naga and Kuki voters, recorded the highest turnout at 85.54 percent.
Incidents of shooting and intimidation were reported from several places in the Inner Manipur seat, officials said.
A 65-year-old man was shot at by unidentified armed men at Moirangkampu Sajeb in Khurai constituency in Imphal East district, police said.
Gunmen intimidating voters and polling officials were reported from a few places.
Over 50 per cent voter turnout was recorded up to 5 pm on Friday in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, officials said.
According to the Election Commission, polling began at 7 am amid tight security and 50.27 percent voting took place till 5 pm, with one more hour of polling to go.
The highest voter turnout of 60.29 percent was recorded in Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Karauli-Dholpur saw the lowest turnout of 42.53 percent, it said. Jaipur had recorded a poll percentage of 56.57.
The voting percentage was 48.87 in Bikaner, 56.52 in Churu, 44.97 in Jhunjhunu, 48.85 in Sikar, 48.67 in Jaipur Rural, 53.31 in Alwar, 45.63 in Dausa, 45.48 in Bharatpur and 49.92 in Nagaur till 5 pm.
Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 67.46 percent till 5 pm amid incidents of shooting and intimidation, officials said.
The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, which comprises 32 of the 60 Assembly segments in the state, recorded 71.01 percent turnout, while 15 of the 28 Assembly segments of Outer Manipur that went to polls during the day registered a turnout of 61.12 percent.
Wangkhem in Thoubal district recorded the highest turnout among the 32 Assembly constituencies under Inner Manipur at 82.41 percent.
In Outer Manipur, Chandel, which has both Naga and Kuki voters, recorded the highest turnout at 85.54 percent.
A voter turnout of 63.25 percent was recorded till 5 pm on Friday in six Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, where elections were underway in the first phase, an official said.
In Balaghat, 71.08 percent voting was recorded, in Chhindwara 73.85 percent, Jabalpur 56.74 percent, Mandla 68.31 percent, Shahdol 59.91 percent and Sidhi 51.24 percent, the official said.
Voting in Baihar and Paraswada Assembly constituencies under the Balaghat Lok Sabha seat was held between 7 am and 4 pm for security reasons in view of the Naxal menace, he said, adding that a centre in the Dublai area of Baihar saw 100 percent voting as all 80 voters cast their votes.
Nearly 60 percent polling was reported till 5 pm in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, the Election Commission said.
Polling is underway in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories.
While voting began at 7 am simultaneously in all constituencies it will end at 6 pm in most of the seats.
Earlier, the commission had said that 49.78 percent polling was recorded till 3 pm.
A total of 70.77 per cent of over 86.47 lakh voters in five Lok Sabha seats in Assam exercised their franchise till 5 pm on Friday, poll officials said.
The turnout is expected to increase as people in queue till 5 pm will be allowed to cast their votes.
Polling personnel in six eastern districts of Nagaland waited for nine hours in booths, but not one of the four lakh voters of the region turned up following a shutdown call given by Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation’s to press for its demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’.
Villagers opposing the Parandur airport project near Chennai boycotted the Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu.
People of Vegaivayal in Pudukkottai district, too, gave the polls a go in protest against the non-arrest of perpetrators in the human faeces incident of 2022.
Villagers belonging to Ekanapuram and other nearby areas including Nagapattu under the Parandur panchayat, close to Sriperumbudur, who are opposed to the greenfield airport project abstained from voting.
People belonging to Vengaivayal and Eraiyur villages in Pudukkottai district, both Dalits and caste Hindus, boycotted the polls. In 2022, human faeces were found mixed in the overhead tank in the village and the matter is under investigation by police.
Many migrants from Assam got a chance to spend a few more days at home this year as they extended their annual leave for Bihu festivities to be able to cast their votes in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday.
Besides Lakhimpur and Jorhat, Sonitpur, Dibrugarh and Kaziranga constituencies went to the polls in the first phase in the state.
Elections will be held in five seats in the second phase on April 26, and four remaining constituencies in the third phase on May 7.
Amid reports of violence from a few districts in Arunachal Pradesh, over 53 percent of 8.92 lakh electors cast their votes till 3 pm on Friday in the northeastern state where polling for two Lok Sabha seats and 50 assembly constituencies is underway, officials said.
Supporters of two candidates clashed near a polling station in the Bameng constituency in East Kameng district, Inspector General of Police (Law & Order) Chukhu Apa said, adding that the situation was brought under control and polling is continuing,
Incidents of EVM damage were also reported from three polling stations in East Kameng, Kurung Kumey and Upper Subansiri districts, the police officer said.
Polling in Chennai Central, one of the three Lok Sabha constituencies in the city, has been the lowest in the state which went to polls on Friday.
Voter turnout in this constituency was 24.09 percent at 11 am, 32.31 percent at 1 pm and 41.47 percent at 3 pm, Chief Electoral Satyabrata Sahoo said.
As per the status at 3 pm, the state had polled 51.41 percent, he told reporters here. Dharmapuri with 57.86 percent saw the highest turnout in the state at 3 pm followed by Namakkal at 57.67 and Kallakurichi at 57.34 percent.
Eight constituencies (out of 39 in the state) polled below 50 percent at 3pm. These included the three constituencies in the city - Chennai North, Chennai South and Chennai Central- which polled 44.84, 42.10 and 41.47 percent, respectively. The others are Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Sriperumbudur.
Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency registered a voter turnout of 68.11 per cent till 3 pm on Friday amid allegations of irregularities.
The opposition Congress and CPI(M) alleged that large-scale "rigging" happened in several places across the constituency, with the Election Commission saying that it received some complaints and was looking into those.
A voter turnout of 53.40 percent was recorded till 3 pm in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where elections are underway in the first phase on Friday, an official said.
The constituency-wise polling percentage is: Balaghat 63.69 percent, Chhindwara 62.57, Jabalpur 48.05, Mandla 58.28, Shahdol 48.64 and Sidhi 40.60, the official said.
A voter turnout of more than 58 percent was recorded till 3 pm on Friday in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh, which saw the death of a CRPF jawan after a grenade accidentally went off and injury to an officer in an IED blast, officials said.
Amid tight security, polling in the Bastar seat started at 7 am and 58.14 percent turnout was registered till 3 pm, an election official said.
A total of 60.70 per cent of over 86.47 lakh voters in five Lok Sabha seats in Assam exercised their franchise till 3 pm on Friday, poll officials said.
Jorhat recorded the highest turnout of 64.84 percent, followed by Sonitpur (60.29), Dibrugarh (60.83), Lakhimpur (59.53) and Kaziranga (58.33), they said.
More than 45 percent polling was recorded till 3 pm in the five Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttarakhand on Friday, officials here said.
The voting began at 7 am and the five constituencies recorded an overall poll percentage of 45.62 at 3 pm, the officials said.
The Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar seat recorded the highest voter turnout of 49.94 percent, followed by Haridwar (49.62 percent), Tehri Garhwal (44.05 percent), Pauri Garhwal (42.12 percent) and Almora (38.43 percent).
A 32-year-old CRPF jawan on poll duty in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district was killed after a shell of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) exploded accidentally, police said.
The jawan, Constable Devendra Kumar of CRPF's 196th battalion, was shifted to Jagdalpur, headquarters of Bastar district, in an air ambulance helicopter and admitted to the Medical College Hospital there.
But he succumbed to the injuries during treatment. His Kumar's last rites will be conducted in his native Dhobiguda village in Bastar district on Saturday.
Puducherry reported a voter turnout of 58.86 percent at 3 pm. Polling will end at 7 pm.
The Union Territory has 10,23,699 voters spread over Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam regions.
The two Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya recorded a voter turnout of 61.94 percent till 3 pm on Friday, chief electoral officer BDR Tiwari said.
While the turnout for the Shillong parliamentary constituency was 61.18 percent, Tura recorded 63.23 voter percent, he said.
Polling was being held at 3,512 polling stations in the state in which 10 candidates are in the fray — six for the Shillong parliamentary seat and four for the Tura Lok Sabha seat.
The estimated voter turnout at 3 pm in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections was around 49.78 per cent, the Election Commission said.
A spokesperson of the poll panel said the figures were only approximate.
In a statement earlier in the day, the poll watchdog had described the voter turnout till 1 pm as "substantial".
Polling was progressing "smoothly and peacefully" across 21 states and union territories, it had said, PTI reported.
The estimated voter turnout at 3 pm in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday was around 49.78 percent, the Election Commission said.
A spokesperson of the poll panel said the figures were only approximate.
In a statement earlier in the day, the poll watchdog had described the voter turnout till 1 pm as "substantial". Polling was progressing "smoothly and peacefully" across 21 states and union territories, it had said.
More than 49 percent of total 8.56 lakh voters in Mizoram have exercised their franchise for the lone Lok Sabha seat till 3 pm on Friday, election officials said.
Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state is underway amid tight security arrangements, they said.
The state recorded 49.77 percent voting till 3 pm, according to an election official.
Officials said that polling will conclude at 5 pm.
Polling picked up momentum in Puducherry as the union territory gets set to elect their lone representative to the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Official sources said that the polling percentage shot up to 58.86 at 3 pm. Polling will end at 7 pm.
The Union Territory has 10,23,699 voters spread over Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions.
An average voter turnout of 47.44 percent was recorded in the first eight hours of polling on Friday in eight western Uttar Pradesh constituencies where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election.
According to the Election Commission (EC), till 3 pm, 53.31 percent voting was reported in Saharanpur, 46.28 percent in Moradabad, 48.92 percent in Kairana, 48.15 percent in Nagina, 49.06 percent in Pilibhit, 47.70 percent in Bijnor, 42.77 percent in Rampur and 45.18 percent in Muzaffarnagar.
Nearly 44.7 percent of the 95 lakh eligible voters have cast their ballots till 3 pm on Friday in the five Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where polling is underway in the first phase of the general elections, an official said.
The voter turnout stood at 45.88 percent in Bhandara-Gondia till 3 pm, the official said. Chandrapur recorded a turnout of 43.48 percent, Gadchiroli-Chimur 55.79 percent, Nagpur 38.43 percent and Ramtek 40.10 percent till 3 pm, the official said.
The average turnout in the five seats was about 44.73 percent till 3 pm, he said.
Around 43.98 percent of the 57,784 voters in the lone Lok Sabha constituency in Lakshadweep have exercised their franchise till 3 pm on Friday, officials said.
Around 40.92 percent of the 75 lakh voters in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar have exercised their franchise till 3 pm on Friday, officials said.
The polling began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm, a senior election official said. The voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates in these four seats.
Over 44.46 percent of voters have exercised their franchise in Jamui Lok Sabha constituency, 42.20 percent in Aurangabad, 39.55 percent in Gaya and 37.77 percent in Nawada till 3 pm, officials said.
Over 41 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first eight hours of polling on Friday in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, officials said.
According to the Election Commission, polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and 41.51 percent voting took place till 3 pm.
The highest voter turnout of 50.14 percent has been recorded in the Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Karauli-Dholpur saw the lowest turnout of 33.86 percent, it said. Jaipur so far recorded a poll percentage of 49.48.
In a first, seven members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of Great Nicobar Islands on Friday exercised their voting rights for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Andaman and Nicobar.
Besides voting at polling station 411 named Shompen Hut, the tribe members also they posed for selfies at a designated cut-out made by the Election Commission of India, which read – "I vote for sure".
Celebrating democracy in #Andaman_Nicobar 🎉 Witness the Andamanese tribes exercising their right to vote.
Remember, #GoVote because every vote matters!#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #ECI #GeneralElections2024 #LokSabhaElections #Elections2024 @AndamanCEO pic.twitter.com/AbFlLN0lzr
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 19, 2024
A voter turnout of 66.34 percent was recorded till 3 pm in the three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal where elections were underway in the first phase on Friday, officials said.
Polling started at 7 am in Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars seats, where a total of 56.26 lakh people are eligible to vote, they said.
"Till 3 pm, the voter turnout in Coochbehar was 65.54 percent, while that in Jalpaiguri was 67.28 percent, and in Alipurduars was 66.23 percent," an election official said.
An SUV carrying an electronic voting machine partially sank into a river after the water level rose suddenly washing away a mechanised boat that was ferrying the vehicle in Assam’s Lakhimpur constituency on Friday, officials said.
The driver and the polling officer of the vehicle managed to get out before water gushed into the vehicle, an official said.
It was on its way to the Amarpur area in Sadiya to replace an EVM after a technical glitch was detected in it as polling commenced in the morning, the official said.
A quick response team stationed at Sadiya dispatched the SUV with the EVM, accompanied by the driver and an official.
"Substantial" voter turnout was reported till 1 pm in many states and Union territories where voting is underway in phase one of Lok Sabha elections on Friday, the Election Commission said.
Polling was progressing "smoothly and peacefully" across 21 states and union territories, it said.
Visuals of voters standing in long queues waiting for their chance to vote were seen across polling stations as voting began simultaneously at 7 AM, the poll watchdog said.
Over 33 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first six hours of polling on Friday in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, officials said.
According to the Election Commission, polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and 33.73 per cent voting took place till 1 pm.
The highest voter turnout of 40.72 per cent was recorded in the Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Karauli-Dholpur saw the lowest turnout of 28.32 per cent, it said. Jaipur recorded a poll percentage of 39.35.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar dismissed apprehensions about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and assured people that their vote was safe and secure.
Kumar asserted that the EVMs were 100 percent safe as a large number of safeguards – technological, administrative, and process-oriented – were in place.
"It is a settled issue. It is 100 percent safe...Enjoy your voting, your vote is safe, secure and will be recorded as you vote," Kumar said.
A total of 150 complete Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) sets were replaced due to malfunctioning across the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam where voting is underway on Friday, officials said.
Besides, more than 400 components such as VVPATs and ballot units of different EVMs were also replaced because of snags.
Most of the glitches were noticed during the mock polling, which started 90 minutes before the commencement of the actual voting, and those machines were replaced accordingly, a senior official of the Election Department told PTI.
A voter turnout of 45.12 percent was recorded till 1 pm in the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam where elections are underway, officials said on Friday.
Jorhat recorded the highest turnout of 47.73 percent, followed by Sonitpur with 45.25 percent, Lakhimpur (44.33 percent) Kaziranga (44.32 percent) and Dibrugarh (44.02 percent).
The polling, which began at 7 am, will continue till 5 pm.
A voter turnout of more than 42 percent was recorded till 1 pm on Friday in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh, which saw a CRPF officer getting injured in an explosion of a pressure IED planted by Naxalites, officials said.
"Amid tight security, polling in the Bastar seat started at 7 am and is underway smoothly. At least 42.57 percent polling was registered till 1 pm," an election official said.
A voter turnout of 44.43 percent was recorded till 1 pm in six Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh where elections were underway in the first phase on Friday, an official said.
The constituency-wise polling per cent is Balaghat 52.83 percent, Chhindwara 49.68, Jabalpur 39.63, Mandla 49.68, Shahdol 40.82 and Sidhi 34.65, the official said.
The Naxal-hit Balaghat constituency recorded the highest vote cast percentage of 52.83 percent till 1 pm.
The state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan told PTI that polling was going on peacefully in all six constituencies.
Six districts of eastern Nagaland wore a deserted look on Friday as people stayed indoors following an indefinite shutdown call by the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO)., an apex body of the seven tribal organisations of the area, to press for its demand for a separate state.
The situation is peaceful. Sources said there was no voter turnout till 11 am. Polling comes to an end at 4 pm, PTI reported.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland Awa Loring said election officials are stationed in the 738 polling stations in the six districts of the region.
The Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency registered a voter turnout of 52.67 percent till 1 pm on Friday amid allegations of irregularities.
The opposition Congress and CPI(M) alleged that large-scale "rigging" happened in several places across the constituency, with the Election Commission saying that it received some complaints and was looking into those.
In the by-election to the Ramnagar assembly seat, which was being held simultaneously, a turnout of 43.01 percent was recorded till 1 pm.
Sporadic incidents of violence marred the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in the three parliamentary constituencies in Bengal.
Both the TMC and the BJP lodged 80 and 39 complaints, respectively, related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on poll agents in the first few hours of polling, sources from both parties said.
Most of the complaints were from Cooch Behar and Alipurduars constituencies.
Braving incessant rains, an estimated 43 per cent of voters registered their choice by 1 pm on Friday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency, officials said.
The officials said up to 1 pm, the Bani segment recorded a polling percentage 41.98, Banihal 30.41, Basohli 44.82, Bhaderwah 43.01, Bilawar 43.64, Chenani 43.39, Doda 46.87, Doda West 48.82, Hiranagar 43.30, Inderwal 48.87, Jasrota 48.94, Kathua (SC) 45.25, Kishtwar 34.24, Padder-Nagseni 48.56, Ramban 45.75, Ramnagar (SC) 42.17, Udhampur East 48.30 and Udhampur West 36.31.
The overall poll percentage was recorded at 43.11.
Polling picked up gradually in all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies across Tamil Nadu after commencing on a dull note early in the morning. The state registered a poll percentage of 40.05 at 1 pm, according to official data.
Dharmapuri saw a voter turnout of 44.08 percent while Central Chennai polled the lowest with 32.31 percent, the Election Commission said.
At 11 am, the state registered a poll percentage of 24.37.
Around 29.91 percent of voters in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep cast their votes for the lone seat in the archipelago till 1 pm on Friday, officials said.
Nearly 30.6 percent of the 95 lakh eligible voters cast their ballots till 1 pm on Friday in the five Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where polling is underway in the first phase of the general elections, an official said.
The voter turnout stood at 34.56 percent in Bhandara-Gondia till 1 pm, the official said. Chandrapur recorded a turnout of 30.96 percent, Gadchiroli-Chimur 40.01 percent, Nagpur 28.75 percent and Ramtek 28.73 percent till 1 pm, the official said.
The average turnout in the five seats was about 30.6 percent till 1 pm, he said.
Around 31.47 percent of the 75 lakh voters in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar have exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Friday, officials said.
Tight security arrangements are in place at Nawada and Aurangabad, besides reserved seats of Gaya and Jamui, where a majority of nearly 5,000 polling booths have been marked as "sensitive".
Over 34.25 percent voters have exercised their franchise in Jamui Lok Sabha constituency, 33.99 percent in Aurangabad, 30.40 percent in Gaya and 27.24 percent in Nawada till 1 pm, officials said.
A voter turnout of 50.96 percent was recorded till 1 pm in the three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal where elections were underway in the first phase on Friday, officials said.
Polling started at 7 am in Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars seats, where a total of 56.26 lakh people are eligible to vote, they said.
"Till 1 pm, the voter turnout in Coochbehar was 50.69 percent, while that in Jalpaiguri was 50.65 percent, and in Alipurduars was 51.58 percent," an election official said.
Over 37 percent polling was recorded till 1 pm in the Lok Sabha election being held for five parliamentary constituencies in Uttarakhand on Friday, poll officials said.
Polling began at 7 am and the five constituencies recorded an overall poll percentage of 37.33 up to 1 pm, election officials said.
The Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar seat recorded the highest turnout of 40.46 percent, followed by Haridwar with 39.41 percent, Pauri Garhwal with 36.60 percent, Tehri Garhwal with 35.29 percent and Almora with 32.29 percent.
An estimated 38 per cent of the total 8,92,694 voters exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Friday in Arunachal Pradesh where polling for two Lok Sabha seats and 50 assembly constituencies is underway, officials said.
The turnout, which was moderate in the morning hours due to inclement weather, gained momentum as conditions improved during the day.
In a few polling stations, voting was delayed as electronic voting machines (EVMs) developed technical snags which were later replaced, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain said.
Over 36.75 percent of the 4.64 lakh voters in Sikkim have exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Friday for 32 Assembly seats and in the lone Lok Sabha constituency, an official said.
Voting for the 32 Assembly constituencies and the lone Lok sabha seat in the Himalayan state began at 7 am and will end at 5 pm.
A average voter turnout of 37 percent was recorded till 1 pm on Friday in eight parliamentary constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election.
Polling began at 7 am and according to the Election Commission, till 1 pm, 42.32 percent voting was reported in Saharanpur, 35.25 percent in Moradabad, 37.92 percent in Kairana, 38.28 percent in Nagina, 38.51 percent in Pilibhit, 36.08 percent in Bijnor, 32.86 percent in Rampur and 34.51 percent in Muzaffarnagar.
The eight constituencies recorded an overall poll percentage of 36.96 up to 1 pm.
(PTI)
Tamil superstar 'Thalapathy' Vijay who is the chief of the newly formed Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam cast his vote in Chennai on Friday for the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.
Actor #Vijay arrives to cast his vote at pollling station
South First Live, Friday, 19 April
First phase of polling, #LokSabhaElection2024Follow @TheSouthfirst for voting updates as they happenhttps://t.co/SGRNoKKlNR pic.twitter.com/yjsrbpEWp2
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 19, 2024
About 1,000 voters of Ennore, who had announced to boycott the election over the ammonia gas leak incident at Ennore Creek, withdrew their decision and decided to vote.
Two men died at polling centres in Salem and Kallakurichi. Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said detailed reports on the deaths have been sought from election officials.
The deceased persons were identified as R Chinnaponnu, 77, at Thammampatty in Salem, and N Palaniswamy, 69, of Suramangalam in Salem.
Sahoo said all facilities, including drinking water, were arranged at the polling centres.
Over 33 percent voter turnout was recorded till 1 pm on Friday in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, officials said.
According to the Election Commission, polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and about 33.73 percent of voting took place till 1 pm.
The highest voter turnout of 40.72 percent was recorded in the Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Karauli-Dholpur saw the lowest turnout of 28.32 per cent, it said.
(PTI)
An estimated 35.7 percent of the total 3,15,148 voters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have exercised their franchise till 1 pm on Friday for the lone Lok Sabha in the union territory, an official said.
Chief Electoral Officer BS Jaglan said so far voting is going on peacefully.
"So far the voting is going on peacefully. There were some minor EVM glitches but it was addressed immediately. It did not hamper the poll process," the CEO told PTI.
At Strait Island (in North and Middle Andaman district) 27 voters belonging to the Great Andamanese (ParticularlyVulnerable Tribal Groups - PVTGs) exercised their voting rights. The Strait Island is a restricted area due to the Great Andamanese tribal reserve.
(PTI)
Polling picked up gradually in all the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies across Tamil Nadu after commencing on a dull note early in the morning. As per the 11 am status, the state registered a poll percentage of 24.37.
Voting was incident-free but for some minor glitches in the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) at a few places, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said on Friday.
The voter turnout was around 12.55 percent at 9 am and in Chennai Central constituency it was 8.5 percent.
(PTI)
Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer Madhup Vyas urged people to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha polls in large numbers.
Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state is underway amid tight security arrangements.
More than 26 percent of voting was recorded till 11 am.
Vyas said that low voting percentage not only undermines the democratic spirit but also weakens the voice of the population in shaping the future of the nation.
The six Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh where polling is being held on Friday in the first phase of general elections recorded a voter turnout of 30.46 percent till 11 am, an official said.
The constituency-wise polling is Balaghat 35.64 percent, Chhindwara 32.51, Jabalpur 27.41, Mandla 32.03, Shahdol 29.57 and Sidhi 26.03, the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan told PTI, adding that polling was going on peacefully in all the six constituencies.
The highest vote cast percentage of 35.64 percent was recorded in the Naxal-hit Balaghat constituency by 11 am.
Baihar and Paraswada assembly constituencies where the voting is taking place from 7 am to 4 pm due to security reasons due to Naxal influence registered voting percent of 43.96 and 40.79 per cent by 11 am, the CEO said.
A centre in the Dublai area in the Baihar constituency saw 100 percent voting. All 80 voters there cast their votes, he added.
Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, and Chhindwara recorded turnouts of 26.03, 29.57, 27.41, 32.03 and 32.51 percent, respectively, he added.
No untoward incident has been reported from any place, Rajan said.
(PTI)
Polling picked up momentum in Puducherry through the morning as the union territory gets set to elect their lone representative to the Lok Sabha, on Friday.
A visit to some of the polling stations in the rural areas brought to the fore a mixed picture of voter turnout, which was mediocre in some places and high in others.
Kothandapani (89) along with his 86-year-old wife Krishnammal turned up at a booth in the Veerampattinam coastal village in Ariyankuppam Assembly constituency to cast their votes. Kothandapani is the grandfather of the AIADMK contestant G Tamizhvendhan, family sources told media at the booth.
Voters turned up before the commencement of the polls at most of the booths, official sources said. In one of the polling stations in the Mudaliarpet Assembly constituency, the VVPAT developed some snags and there was a delay of 45 minutes in the commencement of polling. Official sources said that as soon as the VVPAT developed technical snags, the engineers of BEL were called to rectify the defects.
Puducherry recorded 28.10 percent polling till 11 am.
(PTI)
More than 28 percent of the electorate cast their votes in the first four hours of polling in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh, which witnessed a grenade explosion on Friday.
A CRPF jawan deployed on poll security duty was injured when a shell of an under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) accidentally exploded in Bijapur district.
In a post on 'X', Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, "Received sad news that a soldier engaged in the security of a polling station suffered injuries in UBGL shell blast in Bijapur amid the ongoing voting in Bastar Lok Sabha. Instructions have been given to ensure proper treatment for the injured. His condition stated to be out of danger. I wish for his speedy recovery".
बस्तर लोकसभा में जारी मतदान के बीच बीजापुर में UBGL ब्लास्ट होने से मतदान केंद्र की सुरक्षा में लगे एक जवान के घायल होने की दुःखद सूचना प्राप्त हुई है।
घायल जवान के उचित इलाज के निर्देश दिए हैं और उसकी हालत खतरे से बाहर है। जवान के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं।
— Vishnu Deo Sai (Modi Ka Parivar) (@vishnudsai) April 19, 2024
Long queues of voters were witnessed at several polling stations in Dantewada, Bijapur and Bastar districts.
"Amid tight security, polling in the Bastar seat started at 7 am and is underway smoothly. At least 28.12 percent polling was registered till 11 am," an election official said.
Among the initial voters, Congress candidate Kawasi Lakhma cast his vote at the Nagaras polling booth (Sukma), BJP's Mahesh Kashyap in Kalcha (Bastar), state BJP chief Kiran Deo in Shanti Nagar (Jagdalpur- Bastar) and state Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap in Farsaguda (Bastar).
The Balud polling booth in Dantewada district sported the theme of environment conservation, with officials giving away saplings to voters to create awareness about conservation.
At least 60,000 state and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the constituency to ensure peaceful polling.
Polling in booths of Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Chitrakot, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta assembly constituencies in the Bastar Lok Sabha seat is being held from 7 am to 3 pm.
In the Bastar Assembly constituency, polling is being held from 7 am to 5 pm, while in Jagdalpur, 175 booths are seeing voting from 7 am to 5 pm, and in 72 booths, it is being held from 7 am to 3 pm, she said.
Altogether 14,72,207 voters, including 7,71,679 women, 7,00,476 men and 52 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the seat with 11 candidates in the fray, the official said.
As many as 1,961 polling booths have been set up in the constituency, of which 61 were categorised as vulnerable and 196 as critical.
The straight fight is between the Congress's firebrand leader Kawasi Lakhma and BJP's Mahesh Kashyap, a fresh face, in Bastar, which the saffron party lost in 2019.
(PTI)
Over 22 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Friday in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, officials said.
According to the Election Commission, polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and about 22.59 percent voting took place till 11 am.
The highest voter turnout of 27.70 percent was recorded in the Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Jhunjhunu saw the lowest turnout of 18.91 percent, it said.
There are 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan. In the first phase, voting is being held in the Churu, Nagaur, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Dausa Lok Sabha seats, and 114 candidates are in the fray.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other leaders voted in this phase.
Mishra and his wife Satyawati Mishra cast their votes at a polling booth in C Scheme.
The chief minister exercised his franchise at a polling station of Patnik Jagatpura. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari also cast her vote in this phase.
Union minister and BJP candidate from Bikaner Arjun Ram Meghwal voted at a polling booth in Bikaner, along with his family.
Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta cast his vote at a polling booth in Gandhi Nagar in Jaipur and appealed to all voters to exercise their franchise.
Voters were seen posing for selfies after casting their votes at many places in Jaipur city.
The election department has taken some initiatives at the state level in collaboration with business organisations such as the 'Best Selfie Award' and discounts on various products and services to voters who show their inked fingers.
Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP) Utkal Ranjan Sahoo said tight security arrangements have been made for free, fair and peaceful voting.
The Rajasthan Police, along with companies of the Central Armed Forces and Home Guard personnel have been deployed to maintain peace and law and order.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Gupta, a total of 2.54 crore people are eligible to vote in the first phase.
(PTI)
The two Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya recorded a voter turnout of 33.12 percent till 11 am on Friday, officials said.
Polling began at 7 am in the Shillong and Tura seats where 10 candidates are in the fray, they said.
Shillong recorded a 32.7 percent turnout, while Tura recorded 33.82 percent polling in the first four hours, they added.
Voting was being held at 3,512 polling stations in the state, with 22.7 lakh people eligible to exercise their franchise.
(PTI)
For the lone parliament constituency in the Lakshadweep islands, the Election Commission recorded a voter turnout of 16.33 percent till 11 am on Friday.
A voter turnout of 33.63 percent was recorded till 11 am in the three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal where elections were underway in the first phase on Friday, officials said.
Polling started at 7 am in Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars seats, where a total of 56.26 lakh people are eligible to vote, they said.
"Till 11 am, voter turnout in Coochbehar was 33.63 per cent, while that in Jalpaiguri was 31.94 per cent, and Alipurduars was 35.20 percent," an election official said.
All three seats are reserved, with Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri for SCs and Alipurduars for STs.
A total of 37 candidates are in the fray in the three constituencies where voting will continue till 6 pm.
(PTI)
Accompanied by his friends dressed in traditional attires, a groom decked up in sherwani and colourful headgear was among the first to cast his vote at a polling booth in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur as the first phase of the Lok Sabha election began Friday.
Polling started at 7 am amid inclement weather conditions in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency spread over the five districts of Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar.
A newlywed at a polling booth in Udhampur.
Kapil Gupta got married Thursday and exercised his franchise at a polling booth set up on the premises of the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Backward Classes Development Corporation Limited in Udhampur town soon after returning home Friday morning.
"Voting is our right and must be done on priority," he said, requesting voters to vote in large numbers.
Another newly married couple, Sahil and Radhika, turned up in wedding costumes at a polling station set up in a school in Udhampur.
"We got married only yesterday (Thursday) and I told my husband that we should vote. My vote is not here but I accompanied him," the bride said.
"I will be visiting my parents later in the day in a nearby village to fulfil my democratic responsibility as well," she added.
(PTI)
An estimated 21.82 percent of the total 3,15,148 voters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have exercised their franchise till 11 am on Friday for the lone Lok Sabha in the Union Territory.
At Strait Island (in North and Middle Andaman district) 27 voters belonging to the Great Andamanese (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups - PVTGs) exercised their voting rights. The Strait Island is a restricted area due to the Great Andamanese tribal reserve.
मतदान करने जायेंगे देश के लिए🇮🇳✨ #YouAreTheOne #IVote4Sure
Check out the facts at a glance of the #Phase1 poll in #Andaman_Nicobar#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #GeneralElections2024 #GoVote pic.twitter.com/kWmkrmPG69
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 19, 2024
An estimated 19 percent of the total 8,92,694 voters exercised their franchise till 11 am on Friday in Arunachal Pradesh where polling is underway for two Lok Sabha seats and 50 Assembly constituencies, officials said.
The ruling BJP has already won 10 seats in the 60-member assembly unopposed.
Though the turnout was moderate in the morning hours due to inclement weather, it gathered momentum with weather conditions improving.
In a few polling stations in the state, polling was delayed as the electronic voting machines (EVMs) developed technical snags which were later replaced, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain said.
According to reports from various districts, the polling remained peaceful so far without any incidents of violence, the CEO said
Union Earth Science Minister Kiren Rijiju, Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Chowna Mein were among the early voters in the northeastern state.
Kiren Rijiju after casting his vote.
Rijiju cast his vote in his village Nafra in the newly created Bichom district, while Khandu exercised his franchise at the government secondary school Bomba from where he did his schooling, in the Mukto constituency in Tawang district, the officials said.
Mein also exercised his franchise at Chowkham.
Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik and his wife Anagha Parnaik, cast their votes at Polling Station 1 at P Sector government secondary school, in Itanagar.
"I had cast my vote as per the Constitutional privilege I have and I appeal to all the voters of the state to exercise their franchise and make our democracy a success," the governor told reporters.
An estimated 8,92,694 voters, including 4,54,256 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise and decide the electoral fate of 133 candidates in the Assembly polls and 14 Lok Sabha poll contestants.
(PTI)
"This is the festival of democracy...I am immensely happy and proud to have participated in it. This mark (inked finger) is the most beautiful insignia of a citizen. I would urge all citizens, especially the first-time voters, to take part in this festival with full enthusiasm...," says Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi.
Around 16.63 percent of the 75 lakh voters in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar have exercised their franchise till 11 am on Friday.
The voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates in these four seats.
Over 19.33 percent of voters have exercised their franchise in Jamui Lok Sabha constituency, 17.65 percent in Nawada, 15.04 percent in Aurangabad and 14.50 percent in Gaya till 11 am, PTI reported, quoting officials.
A slew of political leaders and celebrities exercised their franchise in their respective polling stations across Tamil Nadu on Friday for the Lok Sabha polls.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi cast his vote at a polling booth here while Chief Minister MK Stalin, former chief ministers, O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami and leaders of political parties exercised their franchise.
Ravi and Stalin urged people to turn up enthusiastically and do their democratic duty.
MK Stalin after casting his vote.
Stalin, his wife Durga Stalin, DMK leader Kanimozhi (contesting from Thoothukudi) and BJP leaders L Murugan (Nilgiris candidate) and Tamilisai Soundararajan (South Chennai) voted in Chennai.
Former chief ministers Palaniswami and Panneerselvam cast their vote in their home districts of Salem and Theni respectively.
Information Technology Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan voted at Madurai. In Chennai, veteran Communist leader R Nallakannu, and Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin cast their votes.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai voted at his native village in Karur district and Naam Tamilar Katchi top leader Seeman at Neelankarai in Chennai. PMK's Dharmapuri candidate Sowmiya Anbumani voted at Tindivanam.
Veteran actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan, who campaigned for the DMK-Congress alliance in the LS polls voted at Teynampet in Chennai.
Celebrities including Rajinikanth, Ilaiyaraaja and Ajith Kumar were among the among the early voters.
Actors Trisha, Dhanush, noted villain Mansoor Ali Khan who is contesting as an independent in Vellore, lyricist Vairamuthu and many tinsel town celebrities also cast their votes in their respective polling stations.
Single phase polling was underway from 7 am in all the 39 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
In neighbouring Puducherry, AINRC founder and Chief Minister N Rangasamy arrived at a polling booth on a two-wheeler and cast his vote.
Meanwhile, two elderly voters in Salem died after arriving at the polling booth to cast their votes and a report has been sought on the matter, state Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said.
(PTI)
An average voter turnout of 25.20 percent was recorded in the first four hours of polling in eight parliamentary constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election.
According to the Election Commission, till 11 am, 29.84 percent of voting was reported in Saharanpur, 23.35 percent in Moradabad, 25.89 percent in Kairana, 26.89 percent in Nagina, 26.94 percent in Pilibhit, 25.50 percent in Bijnor, 20.71 percent in Rampur and 22.62 percent in Muzaffarnagar.
These seats fall in the Jat and sugarcane belt of the state.
Women, who outnumber male voters in all the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam going to polls in the first phase, came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise on Friday.
Women were seen queuing up before polling stations from 5 am and most of them said they wanted to cast their vote early so that they could return home and continue with their daily chores.
The total number of women voters in the five constituencies is 43,64,859 compared to 42,82,887 men, while there are 123 from the third gender.
Voting day vibes!
Long queues of voters, at polling stations in #Assam casting their vote in the first phase of #GeneralElections2024.#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #YouAreTheOne #IVote4Sure pic.twitter.com/IHLKbq6fkk
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 19, 2024
Jyoti Amge, the world's shortest living woman, cast her vote at a polling station in Nagpur. Her height was restricted due to primordial dwarfism, a genetic disorder. An actor, Jyoti is 62.8 cm tall.
Jyoti Amge, the World's shortest woman casts her vote in Nagpur
South First Live, Friday, 19 April
First phase of polling, #LokSabhaElection2024Follow @TheSouthfirst for voting updates as they happenhttps://t.co/SGRNoKKlNR pic.twitter.com/ZmERnGEi1R
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 19, 2024
"The power to change the atmosphere of despair created by unemployment, inflation, and economic crisis is in your hands. Your future for the next five years lies in this vote.
Be aware. Protect your vote. Choose a government that works only for you," AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on X.
बेरोजगारी, मंहगाई और आर्थिक संकट से उपजे निराशा के माहौल को बदलने की शक्ति आपके हाथों में है। इस वोट में आपके पांच सालों का भविष्य है।
जागरूक बनिए। अपने वोट की हिफाजत कीजिए। ऐसी सरकार चुनिए जो सिर्फ आपके लिए काम करे। pic.twitter.com/BE1raph1kc
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 19, 2024
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh urged people to cast their votes to save the indigenous people of the state and protect its territorial integrity.
"I want to appeal to the people of Manipur to cast their votes and save the indigenous population of the state as well as to protect the integrity of the state and bring peace at the earliest," Singh said.
Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections begins in Manipur.#GeneralElections2024 pic.twitter.com/YtduHocq9H
— PIB in Manipur (@PIBImphal) April 19, 2024
Around 12.6 percent of the over 15.44 lakh voters exercised their franchise for the two Lok Sabha seats in the ethnic violence-affected Manipur till 9 am on Friday.
Inner Manipur constituency recorded 13. 82 percent polling while the turnout in Outer Manipur is 11.57 percent in the first two hours of voting.
Stray incidents of unrest were reported from a few places, a police officer told PTI.
First time voter shows their inked fingers after casting vote at a polling booth in Laipham Khunou, Heingang AC, #Manipur. #GeneralElections2024 pic.twitter.com/2PkG5DWwx1
— PIB in Manipur (@PIBImphal) April 19, 2024
Polling began peacefully in all six constituencies for the first phase in Madhya Pradesh. Till 9 am, a total of 14.12 percent of voters exercised their franchise.
Early voters included former chief minister Kamal Nath, his son Nakul Nath, who is contesting from the Chhindwara LS seat, and their spouses.
The Congress in Tripura alleged large-scale "rigging" in several places.
"The voting has turned into a farce with BJP-backed goons attacking polling agents of the opposition. We are receiving reports of attacks on our polling agents from different places, including Udaipur, Belonia and Sonamura. The situation is worst in the Ramnagar assembly seat," alleged Congress's Tripura West candidate Asish Kumar Saha.
The CPI(M) is backing Saha. He has been pitted against BJP's Biplab Kumar Deb, the former chief minister.
The Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency recorded a voter turnout of 15.09 percent during the first two hours of polling.
In the by-election to the Ramnagar seat, which was being held simultaneously, a turnout of 12.28 percent was recorded.
RSS Sarasanghachalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat casts his vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections at a polling station in Nagpur.
A CRPF jawan on poll duty near Galgam village in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district was injured when a shell of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) accidentally exploded, PTI reported.
Bijapur district falls in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency.
"We are celebrating the country's biggest festival with great enthusiasm...In Nagpur, I would especially appeal to the voters that the temperature is high here so they should come early and vote. Last time there was 54 percent voting, this time our resolve is to take the voting percentage to 75 percent," Union Minister and BJP candidate from Nagpur, Nitin Gadkari, said.
"I will definitely win this election by a very big margin...," he added.
People belonging to Parandhur village with over 1,000 voters near Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu did not turn up to vote till 9.30 am. Residents of villages including Parandhur are opposing an airport project in their region.
An argument broke out between voters and officials in some polling stations as authorities did not allow people to carry their smartphones/mobiles inside the booth.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved's Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna cast their votes at a polling booth in Haridwar.
Isha Foundation's Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev casts his vote for the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 in Coimbatore.
"Polling is very peaceful and we are very hopeful that the INDIA alliance will win and we will form the government. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, as we have told you during the campaign itself, all 40 seats will be in our favour. This time 40 out of 40 seats is our hope and it will turn into reality."
“Today is the first phase of voting. Remember, each of your votes is going to decide the future of Indian democracy and the coming generations. So, come out and strengthen democracy by applying the power of your vote to the wounds inflicted on the soul of the nation in the last 10 years. Defeat hatred and open the “Mohabbat ki Dukan” in every corner.”
आज पहले चरण का मतदान है!
याद रहे, आपका एक-एक वोट भारत के लोकतंत्र और आने वाली पीढ़ियों का भविष्य तय करने जा रहा है।
इसलिए बाहर निकलिए और पिछले 10 साल में देश की आत्मा को दिए गए ज़ख्मों पर अपने ‘वोट का मरहम’ लगाकर लोकतंत्र को मज़बूत कीजिए।
नफ़रत को हरा कर खोल दीजिए हर कोने… pic.twitter.com/A9lfRb6yh2
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 19, 2024
Brisk polling is underway in Tamil Nadu for the 2024 general election with the state witnessing a 12.55 percent turnout till 9 am.
Authorities have ensured amenities like drinking water and a 'pandal' to provide shade to voters who line up the serpentine queues.
Voters arrived at the polling stations enthusiastically as early as 6.30 am and waited for their turn to vote. As many as 190 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed.
Some polling stations like Kattuppalli (Tiruvallur) however wore a deserted look, reported PTI.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said after casting his vote in Chennai he was "proud" to have done it.
The entire electorate "should vote", he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to people to choose a strong and decisive leadership that has shown the determination to free the country from corruption, nepotism, and appeasement while fulfilling its promises.
*The Prime Minister said in an interview in early April: “Because of the timely intervention of the Government of India and efforts made by the Government of Manipur, there has been a marked improvement in the situation of the state.”
*But violence persists, so EC split polling into two phases. The Inner Manipur constituency goes to polls in 19 April. The Outer Manipur seat will see a two-phase polling on 19 and 26 April.
*Inner Manipur, with substantial Meitei voters, is held by the BJP.
*Outer Manipur is reserved for Scheduled Tribes. This time, the Kukis have decided not to contest. Most of the candidates are reportedly Nagas.
*Media reports in the past couple of days said that civil society organisations from the Kuki-zo community wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner about their desire not to take part in polling because of recurring violence.
Polling is underway for the Lok Sabha elections to Inner Manipur and parts of Outer Manipur seats amid tight security arrangements.
Over 15.44 lakh voters, including 8, 02, 577 women and 246 transgender electors, will exercise their franchise in 2,107 polling stations on Friday, 19 April.
BJP candidates K Annamalai and Tamilisai Soundarajan cast their votes at Utthupatti and Saligramam, respectively. Former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, and film star 'Thala' Ajith among early voters in Tamil Nadu.
Actor #Ajith at Thiruvanmiyur polling station to cast his vote.
South First Live, Friday, 19 April
First phase of polling, #LokSabhaElection2024Follow @TheSouthfirst for voting updates as they happenhttps://t.co/SGRNoKKlNR pic.twitter.com/TiFZGIF7oE
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) April 19, 2024
Voting was delayed by an hour in some polling booths, such as the one near Tambaram coming under Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha segment, due to technical glitches in the electronic voting machines.
Officials said they were attending to it, PTI reported.
Voting in 41 constituencies from South India — 39 in Tamil Nadu and 1 each in Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
THE JOURNEY OF EVM IN UNION TERRITORY OF LAKSHADWEEP.
We are all ready for the grand celebration of democracy.
Let us all Vote - 19.04.2024#nothinglikevoting
#IVoteforSure #DeshKaGarv #ChunavKaParv #ElectionCommissionofIndia #SVEEP pic.twitter.com/r9CpI1DfR5— CEO LAKSHADWEEP (@LakshadweepCeo) April 18, 2024
"Let us put everything aside and prioritise the most important task: voting. It is our chance to make a difference and score big for our country. My Vote, My Duty," says former cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar.
Let us put everything aside and prioritise the most important task: voting. It is our chance to make a difference and score big for our country. My Vote, My Duty!@ECISVEEP#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/2rSoTUXZcz
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 18, 2024
The Election Commission of India extends "a heartfelt invitation to every voter across India" to join the grand celebration of democracy.
Join us for the grand celebration of democracy #ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv
Election Commission of India extends a heartfelt invitation to every voter across India. ✨🙌#GoVote #GeneralElections2024 #YouAreTheOne #IVote4Sure pic.twitter.com/fcM8LLiKCo
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 18, 2024
The Congress urged all to vote.
"Your one vote can eliminate inflation, unemployment, hatred, and injustice," the main Opposition party said on X.
आपका एक वोट महंगाई, बेरोजगारी, नफ़रत और अन्याय को मिटा सकता है.
मतदान जरूर करें 👆 pic.twitter.com/pK3FBg5BCj
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 19, 2024
"The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers," he said in a post on X.
"I particularly call upon the young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters," he appealed in various Indian languages.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first time voters to vote in large numbers. After all,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2024
Polling began at 7 am on Friday in all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu for the 2024 general election.
Tight security is in place.
People arrived at the polling stations enthusiastically and waited for their turn to vote.
State and central police forces personnel are on guard.
The fate of 950 candidates will be decided by about 6.23 crore voters who are set to exercise their franchise in nearly 68,000 polling stations.
DMK's Dayanidhi Maran (Central Chennai), A Raja (Nilgiris) and Kanimozhi (Thoothukudi), BJP's K Annamalai (Coimbatore), L Murugan (Nilgiris) and Tamilisai Soundararajan (South Chennai), former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (Ramanathapuram), Congress party's Karti Chidambaram (Sivaganga), AIADMK's J Jayavardhan (South Chennai) and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran (Theni) are among the prominent candidates.
Polling also began in neighbouring Puducherry where the Congress and BJP are in a direct fight.
The focus of the first phase is Tamil Nadu and its 39 seats. Modi spared no effort to push hard to give the BJP a strong foothold in the state that has denied him electoral dividends so far.
He made as many as 15 personal visits to this southern state since January. He planned two major initiatives to “unite” the Hindi heartland and the Dravidian region through Kashi-Tamil Samagam and the Sengol episode.
The ruling DMK leads the Dravidian fight against the Hindutva party and electioneering in the state centred around this binary.
The phase will decide the fate of many personalities, from Kanimozhi to Annamalai, Tamilisai Soundararajan to O Panneerselvam, Nitin Gadkari (Nagpur) to Kiren Rijiju (Arunachal West), and Gaurav Gogoi (Jorhat) to Nakul Nath (Chhindwara).
The crunch time has now arrived. Polling is on. BJP state president K Annamalai is responsible for winning Coimbatore. Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is in Chennai South. They form the fulcrum of BJP’s Tamil push.
DMK has its usual list of luminaries in this phase, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin’s sister Kanimozhi in Thoothukudi. Other notables include Dayanidhi Maran from Chennai Central.
Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, tests his fate from Sivaganga, which he plans to retain in 2024.
Former chief minister O Paneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran, nephew of VK Sasikala, a confidante of the late J Jayalalithaa, round up the well-known contestants.
The focus of the first phase is Tamil Nadu and its 39 seats. Modi spared no effort to push hard to give the BJP a strong foothold in the state that has denied him electoral dividends so far.
He made as many as 15 personal visits to this southern state since January. He planned two major initiatives to “unite” the Hindi heartland and the Dravidian region through Kashi-Tamil Samagam and the Sengol episode.
The ruling DMK leads the Dravidian fight against the Hindutva party and electioneering in the state centred around this binary.
The phase will decide the fate of many personalities, from Kanimozhi to Annamalai, Tamilisai Soundararajan to O Panneerselvam, Nitin Gadkari (Nagpur) to Kiren Rijiju (Arunachal West), and Gaurav Gogoi (Jorhat) to Nakul Nath (Chhindwara).
The crunch time has now arrived. Polling is on. BJP state president K Annamalai is responsible for winning Coimbatore. Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is in Chennai South. They form the fulcrum of BJP’s Tamil push.
DMK has its usual list of luminaries in this phase, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin’s sister Kanimozhi in Thoothukudi. Other notables include Dayanidhi Maran from Chennai Central.
Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, tests his fate from Sivaganga, which he plans to retain in 2024.
Former chief minister O Paneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran, nephew of VK Sasikala, a confidante of the late J Jayalalithaa, round up the well-known contestants.
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