The first phase of voting began today on 102 seats across 21 states and UTs and 92 Assembly Constituencies in the state assembly elections in Arunachal and Sikkim. In the first phase, polls were conducted in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Rajasthan (12), Uttar Pradesh (8), Madhya Pradesh (6), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1). Moreover, polling was also held for five seats each in Assam and Maharashtra while four in Bihar, three in West Bengal, two in Manipur, and one seat each in Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura and Chhattisgarh.
A voter turnout of nearly 63 per cent was recorded in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories amid sporadic incidents of violence at some places and an accidental explosion of a grenade launcher shell in Chhattisgarh that left a CRPF jawan dead.
The Election Commission said polling for the first and biggest phase of the seven-phase elections remained largely peaceful.
(PTI)
An aggregate 60.03 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 7 pm in phase one of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, the Election Commission said. A spokesperson said the figure is tentative. Officially, polling ended at 6 pm, but voters who were in the queue by that time were allowed to exercise their franchise.
Polls took place in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories.
Earlier, the commission had said that 49.78 per cent polling was recorded till 3 pm.
(PTI)
The Election Commission of India informed that Exit Polls will be banned till 6.30 PM of June 1, 2024. The ban came into force from 7AM of April 19, 2024.
A 28-year-old security personnel on election duty in Mizoram died due to cardiac arrest on Friday, officials said. Lalrinpuia, who was in the second Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn), was found dead on Friday morning at Vangchhia polling station in Champhai district when other security personnel tried to wake him up, they said. He died due to cardiac arrest around 4.45 am, the officials said.
His body was sent to his native Kawlkulh village in Khawzawl district after an autopsy at Champhai district hospital, they said.
Champhai Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer James Lalrinchhana and Champhai Superintendent of Police (SP) Vineet Kumar were present during the send-off ceremony.
James expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and said that state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Madhup Vyas was informed about the incident.
(PTI)
Nearly 60 per cent polling was reported till 5 pm in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories amid sporadic incidents of violence in West Bengal while an accidental explosion of a grenade launcher shell in Chhattisgarh left a CRPF jawan dead.
An Election Commission spokesperson said the turnout figure was only approximate and polling was held "smoothly and peacefully". While voting for the first and biggest phase of the seven-phased elections began at 7 am in all constituencies, it ended at 6 pm in most of the seats.
Assembly elections are also being held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. While the National Democratic alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Modi is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc are hoping for a rebound after facing reverses in the 2014 and 2019 elections.
Among the voters were first-timers, many newly-wed couples who came in their traditional attires, physically-challenged people and some elderly persons carried on stretchers and wheelchairs. Minor EVM glitches were reported at some booths in Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Assam.
Election officials said the turnout in West Bengal was 77.57 per cent till 5 pm, Assam 70.77 per cent and Meghalaya 69.91 per cent while voters in six districts of eastern Nagaland stayed indoors following an indefinite shutdown call by an apex body of tribal organisations to press for its demand for a separate state.
In West Bengal, polling was marred by violence in the Cooch Behar seat. TMC and BJP workers clashed with each other and lodged 80 and 39 complaints respectively related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assault on poll agents, sources from both parties said. In strife-torn Manipur, around an impressive turnout of 67.46 per cent till 5 pm was recorded. An altercation broke out between locals and unidentified persons in Thongju assembly constituency under the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
In Chhattisgarh, 63.41 per cent voters cast their votes in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency where the CRPF jawan after the grenade accidentally went off while an officer was injured in an IED blast in another incident. In Tamil Nadu, where polling is spread over 39 constituencies, a voting percentage of over 63.20 was recorded. Voting was delayed by an hour in some polling booths in the state such as the one near Tambaram due to technical glitches in the electronic voting machines.
Arunachal Pradesh saw over 60 per cent of the total 8,92,694 voters exercising their franchise.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 Pawan Kumar Sain said.
(PTI)
At least four Electronic Voting Machines were damaged at different polling booths in conflict-hit Manipur on Friday where polling was held in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, according to sources.
"EVMs have been damaged at four places in Imphal East and West. At one of the polling booths, an EVM was set ablaze by unidentified miscreants," a source said.
Under the shadow of a long-drawn ethnic conflict, Manipur was set to go to polls on Friday for the two constituencies--Inner and Outer Manipur. Polling is also scheduled in some areas of the Outer Manipur constituency in phase 2 on April 26. According to the sources, incidents of intimidation and firing were reported from several places in the Inner Manipur constituency where voting for the Lok Sabha polls took place on Friday.
(PTI)
Assam has recorded 70.65 per cent voter turnout till 5 p.m. on Friday, officials said. Five Lok Sabha seats in Assam -- Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaziranga, Lakhimpur, and Sonitpur -- went to the polls in the first phase. The highest turnout -- 76.20 per cent -- was recorded in the Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency.
Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat witnessed second highest voter turnout of 70.65 per cent in the state. Among these seats, Jorhat is set to witness an interesting contest between Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and incumbent BJP MP Topon Kumar Gogoi.
In Dibrugarh, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is contesting against United Opposition Forum candidate Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya recorded 69.91 per cent voter turnout till 5 p.m., as per the data provided by the Election Commission. Shillong Lok Sabha seat recorded a voter turnout of 70.26 per cent, while in Tura Lok Sabha seat, the turnout was 69.31 per cent. Both Lok Sabha seats in the hill state went to the polls in the first phase of the general election.
(IANS)
An estimated 56.87 per cent 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."
In all, 12 candidates, including two women and five independents, are in the fray. The key contest is between BJP's Bishnu Pada Ray and Congress' Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the sitting MP. The Andaman Nicobar Islands parliamentary constituency covers three districts and nine tehsils.
(PTI)
Over 57 pc voter turnout recorded in 8 Lok Sabha seats of UP till 5 pm An average voter turnout of 57.54 per cent 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 per cent voting was reported in Saharanpur, 57.65 per cent in Moradabad, 58.68 per cent in Kairana, 58.05 per cent in Nagina, 60.23 per cent in Pilibhit, 54.68 per cent in Bijnor, 52.42 per cent in Rampur and 54.91 per cent in Muzaffarnagar.
These seats fall in the Jat and sugarcane belt of the state. According to election officials, the poll exercise is underway without any major glitches or law-and-order issues.
(PTI)
The unique Malogam polling station in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh recorded cent per cent 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. According to the election official, very few families reside in Malogam, and all the others except for Tayang are registered voters in other polling booths. But she was not willing to go to other booths to cast her vote.
"It is not always about numbers but it is to ensure that every citizen gets his or her voice heard. Sokela Tayang's vote is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and equality," said Chief Electoral Officer Pawan Kumar Sain.
The village falls under the Hayuliang assembly constituency in Anjaw district bordering China and in the Arunachal East Lok Sabha seat where as many as six candidates are vying for their electoral luck.
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 per cent voting took place till 5 pm, with one more hour of polling to go.
As many as 114 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of polling in the state. The highest voter turnout of 60.29 per cent was recorded in Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Karauli-Dholpur saw the lowest turnout of 42.53 per cent, 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.
There are 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan and the remaining 13 will go to poll in second phase on April 26
Gayatri Chandol and her husband on Friday grabbed eyeballs at the Dailia polling station in Uttarakhand's Nainital district as they turned up in their wedding attire to cast votes. Dressed like a bride and groom, the couple stood out from the rest of the crowd waiting in queue for their turn.
Gayatri took her marriage vows late on Thursday night and was to leave along with her husband on Friday for her in-laws' place but decided to cast her vote before her 'vidaai' ceremony. Gayatri works in Bengaluru and her husband Ravi Shankar Tripathi is a resident of the southern city. However, Gayatri was not the lone newlywed bride who cast her vote in Uttarakhand on Friday.
Similar scenes were witnessed at Ranakot polling station in Pauri Garhwal where Sonali came in her bridal finery to cast her vote and Jakhola where another newlywed couple made it to the polling station to take part in the festival of democracy.
A voter turnout of 63.25 per cent 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 per cent voting was recorded, in Chhindwara 73.85 per cent, Jabalpur 56.74 per cent, Mandla 68.31 per cent, Shahdol 59.91 per cent and Sidhi 51.24 per cent, 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 per cent voting as all 80 voters cast their votes.
Former chief minister Kamal Nath, his son Nakul Nath, who is contesting from the Chhindwara LS seat, and their spouses, were among some of the early voters.
(PTI)
Manipur recorded a voter turnout of 67.46 per cent 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 per cent turnout, while 15 of the 28 assembly segments of Outer Manipur that went to polls during the day registered a turnout of 61.12 per cent.
Wangkhem in Thoubal district recorded the highest turnout among the 32 assembly constituencies under Inner Manipur at 82.41 per cent. In Outer Manipur, Chandel, which has both Naga and Kuki voters, recorded the highest turnout at 85.54 per cent.
Incidents of shooting and intimidation were reported from several places in 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. The man was standing near a polling station when the armed assailants opened fire, they said, adding he has been taken to a hospital in Imphal for treatment.
Armed men also fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth in Thamnapokpi under Moirang assembly constituency in Bishnupur district, prompting voters to flee, police said, adding additional security personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the situation. Unidentified armed men also intimidated election agents of a particular political party at different places and asked them to leave the polling stations, they said.
At Uripok and Iroishemba in Imphal West district, armed men asked agents of a party to leave the premises of polling stations, an official said.
"Incensed with the intimidation, voters at Iroishemba forcefully entered polling stations and destroyed elections materials and equipment," the official said.
At Kiyamgei in Imphal East district's Keirao constituency, armed men fired blank shots and intimidated Congress polling agents. Earlier in the morning, at Khongman Zone 4 in Imphal East district, an altercation broke out between voters and unidentified men leading to damage of EVMs.
(PTI)
World's highest polling station Tashigang, located at a height of 15,256 feet above sea level, in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district, which is part of the Mandi parliamentary constituency, has 52 registered voters, said Assistant Election Officer Harsh Negi on Friday.
There were 45 voters in Tashigang in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Of these, 27 were men and 18 women voters. In the 2021 Mandi parliamentary by-elections, there were 48 voters, which included 29 men and 22 women. And in the 2022 assembly elections, there were 52 voters comprising 30 men and 22 women.
Tashigang in the Spiti Valley remains covered with snow for six months in a year. There is a shortage of oxygen there. Before 2019, the highest polling station was Hikkim (14,400 feet) located close to Tashigang. But in 2019, Tashigang was made a polling station. For years, Hikkam (14,400 feet), close to Tashigang, was one of the highest polling booths.
The Election Commission every time set up the model polling booth with a selfie point with the Himalayas in the background. Donning traditional dresses, most of the electorates reach the booth to cast their votes.
(IANS)
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 an organisation to press for its demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ (FNT).
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday affirmed that the state government does not have any problem with the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation’s (ENPO) demand for FNT as it has already recommended autonomous powers for the region.
The ENPO is the apex body of the seven tribal organisations of the eastern region. Officials said there is no movement of people or vehicles on major streets in eastern Nagaland except those of the district administrations and other emergency services.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland Awa Loring said polling personnel were present between 7 am and 4 pm in the 738 polling stations in the region which comprises 20 assembly constituencies. Sources in the CEO’s office said none came up to cast votes in those nine hours.
Those 20 MLAs also did not exercise their franchise. Of the 13.25 lakh voters in Nagaland, the six districts in Eastern Nagaland have 4,00,632 voters.
(PTI)
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.
In the bypolls to Ramnagar assembly seat, which was being held simultaneously, a turnout of 56.68 per cent was recorded.
"Polling has been largely peaceful. Some complaints of stopping voters from going to booths, driving out of polling agents and malfunctioning of EVMs were received. We are checking all the complaints," Tripura West Returning Officer Vishal Kumar said. Security forces are keeping a close watch on the situation, he said.
(PTI)
A voter turnout of more than 58 per cent 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 per cent turnout was registered till 3 pm, an election official said.
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan deployed on security duty was killed when a shell of an under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) accidentally exploded in Galgam village under Usoor police station limits in Bijapur district, a police official said.
The incident took place when security personnel were out on an area domination exercise near a polling booth, the official added. "Constable Devendra Kumar, belonging to CRPF's 196th battalion, suffered serious injuries in the blast and was airlifted to Jagdalpur but he died during during treatment," he said.
In another incident, an assistant commandant of the CRPF was injured when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites exploded in Bhairamgarh police station area of Bijapur district, police said. The incident occurred near Chihka polling booth under Bhairamgarh police station limits when a team of security personnel was out on an area domination operation in the area in view of polling.
During the exercise, Manu HC, assistant commandant belonging to CRPF's 62nd battalion, came in contact with the pressure IED, triggering a blast that caused injuries on his left leg and hand, he said. (PTI)
The two Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya recorded a voter turnout of 61.94 per cent till 3pm on Friday, chief electoral officer BDR Tiwari said.
While the turnout for Shillong parliamentary constituency was 61.18 per cent, Tura recorded 63.23 voter per cent, 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.
An estimated 22.67 lakh voters are likely to exercise their franchise to seal the fate of the candidates. The NPP, which has been leading the ruling alliance for the last six years, is being backed by the BJP in both seats. The NPP is seeking to retain the Tura seat represented by Agatha K Sangma while the Opposition Congress' candidate and three-time sitting MP Vincent H Pala is seeking re-election for the fourth time.
The opposition TMC is set to give the NPP a run for its money in Tura while the Opposition Voice of the People's Party is seeking to unseat Pala in Shillong.
(PTI)
The estimated voter turnout at 3 pm in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday 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.
Visuals of voters standing in long queues waiting for their chance to vote were seen across polling stations as voting began at 7 am, the poll panel said. People were undeterred by rains in certain parts such as Jammu and Kashmir's Uddhampur and waited in queues for their turn to vote. Polling for assembly elections is also being held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
(PTI)
Nearly 44.7 per cent 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. A snake on the premises of the KDK College here briefly disrupted polling at the booth there, said the person who rescued the reptile.
Altogether 97 candidates, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, are in the fray in Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) constituency, all located in eastern-most parts of the state. The voter turnout stood at 45.88 per cent in Bhandara-Gondia till 3 pm, the official said.
Chandrapur recorded a turnout of 43.48 per cent, Gadchiroli-Chimur 55.79 per cent, Nagpur 38.43 per cent and Ramtek 40.10 per cent till 3 pm, the official said. The average turnout in the five seats was about 44.73 per cent till 3 pm, he said.
(PTI)
Over 50 per cent of the 4.64 lakh voters in Sikkim have exercised their franchise in the 32 Assembly seats and in the lone Lok Sabha constituency till 3 pm on Friday, an official said.
Voting for the 32 Assembly constituencies and in the lone Lok sabha seat in the Himalayan state began at 7 am and will end at 5 pm.
Till 3 pm the Himalayan state has registered 52.73 per cent polling, the official said
Polling is underway in 573 polling stations, out of which 88 are in urban and 485 in rural areas, Sikkim Chief Electoral Officer D Anandan said.
(PTI)
Around 40.92 per cent 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.
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 44.46 per cent voters have exercised their franchise in Jamui Lok Sabha constituency, 42.20 per cent in Aurangabad, 39.55 per cent in Gaya and 37.77 per cent in Nawada till 3 pm, officials said.
(PTI)
Over 41 per cent 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 per cent voting took place till 3 pm.
The highest voter turnout of 50.14 per cent has been recorded in the Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Karauli-Dholpur saw the lowest turnout of 33.86 per cent, it said. Jaipur so far recorded a poll percentage of 49.48.
(PTI)
A voter turnout of 66.34 per cent 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 per cent, while that in Jalpaiguri was 67.28 per cent, and in Alipurduars was 66.23 per cent," an election official said.
(PTI)
Showcasing the spirit of the Indian democracy, all the polling process in the Mahe region of the Union Territory of Puducherry is being dominated and controlled by women.
Mahe has 31,000 voters and has 31 polling booths which are dominated and controlled by women polling officers. Read more...
For the first time in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 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 the union territory, an official said.
Not only Shompen tribe members exercised their voting rights at polling station 411 named as 'Shompen Hut' built inside the forest staff quarters but also they posed for selfies at a designated cut-out made by the Election Commission of India, which reads – "I vote for sure".
The Shompen tribes were assisted in their language by an interpreter known as 'Mathiyas' (a Nicobari tribal youth).
Speaking to PTI, Chief Electoral Officer, B S Jaglan said, "This is for the first time a total of seven members of Shompen tribe exercised their voting rights. Earlier, we have given them training about EVMs and VVPATs through a trainer. It's good to see that they came out of the jungle and voted for the first time."
As per the 2011 census the population of the Shompen was 229.
"Other two primitive tribes like Onge and Great Andamanese too exercised their voting rights like in 2019 Lok Sabha election but seven Shompen did it for the first time out of 98 Shompen voters," the CEO said.
(PTI)
The Trinamool Congress is ideologically dead and hence it is trying to terrorise the voters since Friday morning, claimed BJP leader and Union Minister Nisith Pramanik, who has been renominated from the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency where elections are underway.
“The Trinamool leaders and their supporters are scared after getting a feel of the people's pulse this time. That is why they are unleashing violence in Cooch Behar since the morning. Such things happen when a political entity becomes ideologically dead. That is what is happening with the Trinamool now,” Pramanik told mediapersons after casting his vote on Friday.
He also said that terrorising the voters by using the police is the only option left for the ruling party now.
Of the three Lok Sabha seats in the state where polling is being held on Friday -- Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar -- maximum violence has been reported from Cooch Behar.
Pramanik, the Union Minister of State for Home, said that his priority is to stand with the BJP workers who have been injured following attacks by the Trinamool cadres.
Pramanik also rubbished the claims of the Trinamool MLA from Dinhata, state minister Udayan Guha, who had accused Pramanik’s followers of trying to create tension in the area.
“This has been the style of Trinamool leaders. First, they create problems, then they blame others. But now they have started facing resistance from the common people,” Pramanik said.
(IANS)
"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.
People were undeterred by rains in certain parts such as Jammu and Kashmir's Uddhampur and waited for their turn.
Assembly elections are also being held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
(PTI)
Incidents of intimidation and firing were reported from at least two places in Inner Manipur constituency where voting for the Lok Sabha polls is currently underway, officials said on Friday.
At Thamnapokpi under Moirang constituency in Bishnupur district, armed men fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth prompting voters to flee, police said on Friday, adding additional security personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the situation.
Unidentified armed men also intimidated election agents of a particular political party at different places and asked them to leave the polling stations, they said.
At Uripok and Iroishemba in Imphal West district, armed men asked agents of a party to leave the premises of polling stations, an official said.
"Incensed with the intimidation, voters at Iroishemba forcefully entered polling stations and destroyed elections materials and equipment," the official said.
At Kiyamgei in Imphal East district's Keirao constituency, armed men fired blank shots and intimidated Congress polling agents.
Earlier in the morning, at Khongman Zone 4 in Imphal East district, an altercation broke out between voters and unidentified men leading to damage of EVMs.
Meanwhile, several areas in Kuki-dominated assembly segments in Outer Manipur recorded a thin turnout till 1pm.
(PTI)
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday dismissed apprehensions about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and assured people that their vote was safe and secure.
Kumar asserted that the EVMs were 100 per cent safe as a large number of safeguards – technological, administrative and process-oriented – were in place.
"It is a settled issue. It is 100 per cent safe. It has been raised in the honourable Court also. We are awaiting judgment, nothing can happen to the machines. Every stage political parties and their candidates are involved. Mock polls are done," he said to questions on doubts raised on the EVMs.
"There are a large number of safeguards, technological, administrative, and process-oriented. Just enjoy the voting. This is a time to enjoy the voting, not doubt anything," the CEC said.
"Enjoy your voting, your vote is safe, secure and will be recorded as you vote," Kumar said.
The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections got underway across 102 constituencies in 21 states and union territories on Friday.
(PTI)
An estimated 45.12 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 p.m. on Friday in the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam in the first of the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, officials said.
Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency recorded the highest voter turnout of 47.73 per cent. Meanwhile, the Sonitpur Lok Sabha seat witnessed second highest voter turnout in the state till 1 PM.
The five Lok Sabha seats in the state that went to polls are Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaziranga, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur.
Among these seats, Jorhat is set to witness an interesting contest between Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi and incumbent BJP MP Topon Kunar Gogoi.
Gaurav Gogoi changed his seat this time after his old constituency Kaliabor ceased to exist after the delimitation exercise in Assam.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya recorded an average voter turnout of 48.91 per cent till 1 p.m., as per the date provided by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
While Shillong Lok Sabha seat recorded a higher voter turnout of 50.23 per cent, Tura Lok Sabha recorded 46.67 per cent polling.
Both Lok Sabha seats in the hill state went to the polls in the first phase of the general elections.
(IANS)
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.
Polling began at 7 am in 2,637 polling stations across the constituency and was going on peacefully with no untoward incident reported, they said, adding that there are 12 candidates in the fray.
(PTI)
The Trinamool Congress is ideologically dead and hence it is trying to terrorise the voters since Friday morning, claimed BJP leader and Union Minister Nisith Pramanik, who has been renominated from the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency where elections are underway.
“The Trinamool leaders and their supporters are scared after getting a feel of the people's pulse this time. That is why they are unleashing violence in Cooch Behar since the morning. Such things happen when a political entity becomes ideologically dead. That is what is happening with the Trinamool now,” Pramanik told mediapersons after casting his vote on Friday.
He also said that terrorising the voters by using the police is the only option left for the ruling party now.
Of the three Lok Sabha seats in the state where polling is being held on Friday -- Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar -- maximum violence has been reported from Cooch Behar.
Pramanik, the Union Minister of State for Home, said that his priority is to stand with the BJP workers who have been injured following attacks by the Trinamool cadres.
Pramanik also rubbished the claims of the Trinamool MLA from Dinhata, state minister Udayan Guha, who had accused Pramanik’s followers of trying to create tension in the area.
“This has been the style of Trinamool leaders. First, they create problems, then they blame others. But now they have started facing resistance from the common people,” Pramanik said.
Around 31.47 per cent of the 75 lakh voters in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar have exercised their franchise till 1 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.
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".
(PTI)
A voter turnout of 50.96 per cent 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 per cent, while that in Jalpaiguri was 50.65 per cent, and in Alipurduars was 51.58 per cent," an election official said.
(PTI)
The Tripura Chief Electoral Officer on Friday served a notice to Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by making a statement during 'silence period' through a social media post.
On Thursday, Pradyot Debbarma made an appeal through live Facebook to a particular community to vote for a particular party.
"You have delivered a statement in a live Facebook post last evening violating the provision of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) under the Representatives of People Act. The electors tend to believe whatever is being said from the public forum by their leaders and in that sense, the statement made by them affect the campaign discourse", Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Puneet Agarwal, wrote to the Tipra Motha chief.
"In the light of the provisions of the MCC and relevant electoral laws, the matter is prima facie found to violate the electoral laws. It is clear from your said message that your appeal is to a particular community to vote in favour of a particular party", the CEO said.
"Therefore, you are hereby asked to remove the post immediately and to explain why action will not be taken for violating the election code of conduct. Your explanation of the matter should reach by April 19, at 2 pm," the CEO stated in the notice.
Copies of notices were also served to Tipra Motha president Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl and BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee to clarify their party's stand on the matter.
(PTI)
Over 37 per cent polling was recorded till 1 pm in the Lok Sabha election being held for five parliamentary constituencies in Uttarakhand on Friday, poll officials here said.
Fifty-five candidates are in the fray and there are more than 83 lakh eligible voters in total.
(PTI)
An estimated 38 per cent of the total 8,92,694 voters exercised their franchise till 1pm on Friday in Arunachal Pradesh where polling for two Lok Sabha seats and 50 assembly constituencies is underway, officials said.
The ruling BJP has already won ten seats in the 60-member assembly unopposed.
The turnout, which was moderate in the morning hours due to inclement weather, gained momentum as condition 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.
Though reports of poll-related violence poured in from a few districts, the election officials here are yet to confirm it.
(PTI)
Over 36.75 per cent 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.
Polling is underway in 573 polling stations, out of which 88 are in urban and 485 in rural areas, Sikkim Chief Electoral Officer D Anandan said.
(PTI)
A average voter turnout of 37 per cent 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 per cent voting was reported in Saharanpur, 35.25 per cent in Moradabad, 37.92 per cent in Kairana, 38.28 per cent in Nagina, 38.51 per cent in Pilibhit, 36.08 per cent in Bijnor, 32.86 per cent in Rampur and 34.51 per cent in Muzaffarnagar.
The eight constituencies recorded an overall poll percentage of 36.96 up to 1 pm.
(PTI)
Over 33 per cent 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 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.
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.
(PTI)
An estimated 35.7 per cent 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, B S 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.
(PTI)
Kannur District Election Officer (DEO) on Friday suspended five poll officials for dereliction of duty after it was found that a CPI-M polling agent helped a 92-year-old woman cast her vote from home.
According to the election rules, voters above the age of 85 can vote from their homes.
The incident took place on Thursday at the residence of Devi (92), which falls under Booth No. 164 in the Kasargod Lok Sabha constituency in Kannur district. In some visuals that have surfaced, local CPI-M leader Ganeshan could be seen helping the woman cast her vote. As per the rules, polling agents of any party cannot assist voters in exercising their franchise.
The suspension came after a probe conducted by an election official reported that there was dereliction of duty by the five election officials, as the secrecy to be maintained during voting was breached.
Those suspended include a special polling officer, polling assistant, micro observer, special police officer, and the videographer.
Meanwhile, the local police will register a criminal case against the Ganeshan.
(IANS)
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)
Nearly 25 per cent polling was recorded in the first four hours of voting for the Lok Sabha election in Uttarakhand on Friday, poll officials here said.
Fifty-five candidates are in the fray for the five Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
Election officials said polling began at 7 am and by 11 am, 24.83 per cent of voters cast their votes.
Haridwar recorded the highest of 26.47 per cent of polling so far, followed by Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar with 26.46 per cent, Pauri Garhwal with 24.43 per cent, Tehri Garhwal with 23.23 per cent and Almora with 22.21 per cent.
(PTI)
Around 28.37 per cent of voters cast their votes till 11 a.m. in the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland amidst a tight security cover, officials said.
Election officials said that so far no voter cast their votes in six Eastern Nagaland districts in view of various Naga groups’ call to the people to “abstain” from Friday’s voting in support of their statehood demand.
There are around four lakh eligible voters in the six Eastern Nagaland districts.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio after casting his vote at a school in Kohima said that the state government has proposed the constitution of an autonomous body for the development of the Eastern Nagaland and people residing in the area.
(IANS)
More than 28 per cent 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".
Long queues of voters were witnessed at several polling stations in Dantewada, Bijapur and Bastar districts.
(PTI)
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Friday said he has full faith in the people of Chhindwara and they will support the truth.
He said that he has served Chhindwara for the last 45 years and people have witnessed the all-around development.
"I have full faith in the people of Chhindwara. I hope that they will stand by the truth," Kamal Nath said after casting his vote at the Shikrapur polling booth in Chhindwara.
Kamal Nath has represented the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency nine times until 2014. His son Nakul Nath also won his first general election in 2019, where he is contesting his second election.
Nakul Nath won the last Lok Sabha election with a margin of 35,000 votes. He is facing BJP's Vivek Banti Sahu.
On Thursday, Kamal Nath also wrote a letter to the people of Chhindwara reminding them of decades-long bonding with his family.
(IANS)
The polling percentage in Tripura till 11 a.m. was 34.6 per cent for Tripura West Lok Sabha seat and Ramnagar Assembly seat. Around 16 per cent voter turnout was registered till 9 a.m. in the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat amid tight security, election officials said on Friday.
Election officials added that over 12.28 per cent voters cast their votes in the byelections to the Ramnagar Assembly seat.
Though there is no untoward incident reported from anywhere in the parliamentary constituency, state Congress President Asish Kumar Saha alleged that party agents were not allowed to enter several polling stations.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, after casting his vote at a school here, expressed his confidence that BJP would win in Tripura's two Lok Sabha seats and Ramnagar Assembly seat.
Polling for the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat and the Ramnagar Assembly segment, where bypolls are being held, started on Friday morning under strict security arrangements.
(IANS)
At least two jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed on poll duty in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district were reported injured after a shell of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) exploded, a police official said. Read More...
An estimated 21.82 per cent 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, an official said.
Chief Electoral Officer, B S Jaglan said so far voting is going on peacefully.
(PTI)
A voter turnout of 33.63 per cent 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 per cent," 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.
An estimated 19 per cent 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.
(PTI)
The five seats in Maharashtra where polling is being held in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections recorded a voter turnout of 19.4 per cent till 11 am, an official said.
Altogether 97 candidates, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, are in the fray in Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) constituency, all located in eastern-most parts of the state.
These seats have over 95 lakh eligible voters.
Voter turnout stood at 19.72 per cent in Bhandara-Gondia till 11 am, the official said. Chandrapur recorded a turnout of 18.94 per cent, Gadchiroli-Chimur 24.88 per cent, Nagpur 17.53 per cent and Ramtek 16.14 per cent till 11 am, the official said.
The average turnout in the five seats was about 19.4 per cent, he said.
Polling in the 43 other Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held in four more phases later this month and in May.
A group of miscreants reportedly opened fire near a polling station in Thamanpokpi in the Moirang Assembly segment in Manipur on Friday when people were exercising their franchise. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
Around 28.19 per cent of the over 15.44 lakh voters exercised their franchise for the two Lok Sabha seats in the ethnic violence-affected Manipur till 11 am on Friday, officials said.
Inner Manipur constituency recorded 29.40 per cent polling while the turnout in Outer Manipur was 26.02 per cent in the first four hours of voting.
Polling is underway on Friday for Inner Manipur and parts of Outer Manipur seats, amid tight security arrangements.
Meanwhile, stray incidents of unrest were reported from a few places, a police officer said.
An altercation broke out between locals and unidentified miscreants in Thongju assembly constituency under the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
A voter turnout of 27.22 per cent was recorded till 11 am in the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam where elections were underway in the first phase on Friday, officials said.
Sonitpur recorded a turnout of 28.12 per cent, followed by 29.51 per cent in Jorhat, 26.14 per cent in Lakhimpur, 26.88 per cent in Kaziranga, and 25.41 per cent in Dibrugarh.
The polling, which began at 7 am, would continue till 5 pm.
A total of 86,47,869 voters will decide the fate of 35 candidates in these five seats.
(PTI)
The lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland recorded a voter turnout of 13.51 per cent till 11 am on Friday, officials said.
The voting began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm, they said.
The polling was underway amid a call given by the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) in six districts of the region to abstain from voting over the demand for a separate state.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio exercised his franchise in his native village of Touphema in the Northern Angami-II assembly constituency of Kohima district.
(IANS)
Around 16.63 per cent of the 75 lakh voters in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar have exercised their franchise till 11 am on Friday, officials said.
The polling began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm, a senior official at the state Chief Electoral Office (Bihar) said. The voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates in these four seats.
Over 19.33 per cent of voters have exercised their franchise in Jamui Lok Sabha constituency, 17.65 per cent in Nawada, 15.04 per cent in Aurangabad and 14.50 per cent in Gaya till 11 am, officials said.
(PTI)
Over 21.2 per cent of the 4.64 lakh voters in 32 Assembly seats and in the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim have exercised their franchise till 11 am on Friday, an official said.
Voting for the 32 Assembly constituencies and the lone Lok sabha seat began at 7 am and will end at 5 pm.
Polling is underway in 573 polling stations, out of which 88 are in urban and 485 in rural areas, Sikkim Chief Electoral Officer D Anandan said.
(PTI)
A average voter turnout of 25.20 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of polling 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 11 am, 29.84 per cent voting was reported in Saharanpur, 23.35 per cent in Moradabad, 25.89 per cent in Kairana, 26.89 per cent in Nagina, 26.94 per cent in Pilibhit, 25.50 per cent in Bijnor, 20.71 per cent in Rampur and 22.62 per cent 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.
(PTI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cast his vote in Nagpur for the Lok Sabha elections on Friday.
The deputy CM arrived at the Dharampeth Hindi High School polling booth here along with his wife Amruta and mother Sarita Fadnavis shortly after 10 am.
Polling is being held in the Nagpur constituency, where Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari is pitted against Congress’ Vikas Thakre, in the first phase.
Speaking with the media after casting his vote, he said the festival of democracy has begun in the country and urged people to exercise their franchise.
“My mother, wife and I have cast our votes,” he said.
(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.
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.
According to election officials, voting was going on peacefully across the constituency with heavy rainfall being reported in Kathua district since this morning.
The rains failed to dampen spirits and voters were seen thronging polling stations, braving the inclement weather.
"It is my first vote on attaining the age of 18 and I was waiting for this moment," Vanshika Sharma, a resident of Bhaderwah in Doda district, said.
Meenakshi was the first to vote at the 'pink' polling station in the town and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.
Mool Raj, another voter, was happy to be presented a bouquet for being the first to vote at a polling station in Bhaderwah.
(PTI)
Nagpur Lok Sabha BJP candidate and Union Minister Nitin J. Gadkari along with his wife Kanchan and other family members voted at a polling station near their house in the state’s second capital, here on Friday.
The polling in the first two hours for three Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal on Friday was marred by incidents of violence in the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency. Some cases of violence were reported from Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha constituency as well. Alipurduar, however, was an exception, with no report of poll-related violence in the first two hours. Read More...
Tamil film star Ajith Kumar was the first denizen of the silver screen to show up for voting on Friday. He arrived at his nearest polling booth at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai 30 minutes before voting began and patiently waited for the door to open.
Others were not far behind. When mega star Rajinikanth arrived to cast his vote at Stella Maris College in Chennai, he was briefly mobbed, but then he went about completing the formalities unhindered.
Speaking to the media after voting, Rajinikanth stressed on the "civic duty" of all citizens to exercise their democratic right. He said no one gains anything if people abstain from voting. "There is respect and dignity in voting," Rajinikanth said. "It is our duty to vote. So, please cast your vote."
The mega star's now-estranged son-in-law, Dhanush, also cast his vote around 8 a.m. at St Francis Xavier School on TTK Road.
Among the other early voters were the actors Sarath Kumar, who came with his wife Radhika, Sivakathikeyan and Gowtham Karthik, acclaimed music director Ilayaraja, who showed up at T. Nagar, and the directors Verrimaaran and Sundar C.
(IANS)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Friday cast his vote at Navodaya Mahila Shikshak Prashikshan Mahavidyalaya, Jagatpura in Jaipur, and said BJP aims to make a clean sweep this time also.
102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am. Voters can exercise their franchise till 6:00 pm today. Read More...
Voter turnout till 9 am for phase 1 of polling: Lakshadweep records the lowest - 5.59% Tripura records the highest - 15.21%
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev casts his vote for the first phase of LokSabha Elections 2024.
BJP National VP Baijayant Panda urges people to vote as each vote contributes to the strength & integrity of the country.
"The biggest festival of our democracy begins today with the Lok Sabha elections. I urge everyone, especially young and first-time voters, across the 102 seats in 21 states and UTs to exercise their vote. Each vote contributes to the strength and integrity of our nation," tweets Panda.
As the first phase of voting begins today, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates sand art at Puri beach urging voters to exercise their franchise.
As the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls began on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to cast their ballots carefully and asserted that a new era of economic empowerment and equal opportunities beckons them.
"The fight to protect our Constitution and Democracy begins today," he said in a post on 'X'.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai said on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party will register a historic victory in the state in the Lok Sabha elections.
He said that the people of Tamil Nadu are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will give the BJP a thumping success in the elections.
Annamalai was speaking to the media persons after casting his vote at Uthupatti Elementary School in Karur.
The IPS officer-turned-politician is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the neighbouring Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat.
(IANS)
As polling began in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged voters to strengthen democracy and open 'Mohabbat ki Dukaan' in every corner of the country by defeating hatred.
"Today is the first phase of voting! Remember, each and every vote of yours is going to decide the future of India's democracy and its generations," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on 'X'.
"Go out and strengthen democracy by applying the balm of your vote on the wounds inflicted on the soul of the country in the last 10 years," he said.
Open 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' in every corner of the country by defeating hatred, the Congress leader added.
Actor Rajnikanth casts his vote at a polling booth in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief and party's candidate from Coimbatore constituency, K Annamalai shows his inked finger after casting his vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
Polling for Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal started on Friday morning under tight security cover.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat voted at a polling booth near Reshimbagh, Nagpur on Friday morning.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has appealed to voters who are voting in the first phase to vote in large numbers as 'every vote has the power to create a secure, developed, and self-reliant India'. "...Your vote is not only meant to determine the fate of a Lok Sabha or a candidate but also to shape a bright future for India. My appeal is 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. Form a government that has not only accelerated development but also ensured infallible security along borders, provided health, housing, electricity, and gas facilities to every poor person, and preserved, promoted, and nurtured India's culture and cultural symbols," tweeted Shah.
As the first phase polling is underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers. "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, every vote counts and every voice matters!" PM Modi tweeted.
Voting for Assembly Elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim began today at 7 am. The polling is being simultaneous with the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. All 60 Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh and 32 Assembly seats in Sikkim are going to polls today.