Lok Sabha Elections: Voting Commences in 102 Seats for First Phase
The inaugural phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections kicked off on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spanning 21 states and Union Territories. The extensive seven-phase electoral process commenced at 7:00 am, with voters exercising their franchise until 6:00 pm. Simultaneously, polling for assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also commenced.
In Arunachal Pradesh, voters are set to cast their ballots for two Lok Sabha seats and the 60-member Assembly, while Sikkim will witness voting for 32 assembly seats and a solitary Lok Sabha seat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks re-election for his third consecutive term, while the opposition coalition, INDIA, aims to challenge the ruling BJP’s stronghold. However, these elections unfold amidst controversy, with opposition leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, facing arrest on corruption charges related to the liquor policy case. Opposition parties have accused the ruling BJP of unfair practices, including freezing Congress party accounts weeks before the elections.
With a total of 16.63 crore voters participating in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, the fate of 1625 candidates hangs in the balance. Notable figures such as Nitin Gadkari, Kiren Rijiju, Bhupendra Yadav, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, among several Union ministers, are contesting in this phase.
Lok Sabha Elections: Voting Commences in 102 Seats for First Phase
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), 1.87 lakh polling stations have been established, and 18 lakh personnel deployed across the 102 constituencies. This phase, boasting the highest number of parliamentary constituencies, spans 21 states and Union Territories.
An estimated 8.4 crore male voters, 8.23 crore female voters, and 11,371 third-gender electors are eligible to vote in this phase. Key issues such as unemployment, violence against women, farmers’ grievances, paper leaks, land rights for tribal communities, and rising prices dominate the discourse nationwide.
The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) pre-poll survey highlights price rises and unemployment as primary concerns for voters. Various states like Assam, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Puducherry address specific issues in their electoral agenda.
The Election Commission has implemented stringent security measures, deploying central forces and micro-observers at polling stations to ensure a fair and secure voting process. Webcasting will cover more than 50% of polling stations, with strict surveillance against any form of voter inducement.
With the second phase slated for April 26 and subsequent phases following in May and June, the Lok Sabha elections proceed in the same seven-phase format as the 2019 elections. The Election Commission announced the poll schedule on March 16, coinciding with by-elections in 26 assembly constituencies.