Voting is underway for the first phase of 2024 general elections. Polling is taking place in 102 Parliamentary constituencies spread over 17 states and four Union Territories. Simultaneous voting is also taking place to elect new legislative assemblies in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in a single phase today.

Voting started in most of the constituencies at 7 this morning and will conclude at 6 in the evening. However, timings vary in North Eastern States and Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas.

They are 39 segments of Tamil Nadu, five in Uttarakhand, two each in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and one each in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim and Lakshadweep.

Polling is also being held for 12 seats of Rajasthan, eight seats of Uttar Pradesh, six in Madhya Pradesh, five seats each in Assam and Maharashtra, four in Bihar, three in West Bengal, two seats in Manipur and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

A total of 1,625 candidates are in the fray in this phase of Lok Sabha elections. Among them, prominent candidates include, senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Sarbananda Sonowal, Kiren Rijiju, Dr Jitendra Singh, Sanjeev Balyan and as well as BJP leaders Tamilisai Soundararajan and Jitin Prasada. Besides, Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Karti Chidambaram and Nakul Nath and DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran are prominent faces whose political fate is being sealed in the EVMs today.

One lakh 63 thousand polling stations have been set up for 16 crore 63 lakh voters in this phase. Around 36 lakh first-time voters are also exercising their franchise. The Election Commission has ensured that basic facilities are in place so that every voter can cast their vote with ease. In this phase, over 14 lakh people aged more than 85 years and around 14 lakh Persons with Disabilities have been provided the option to vote from their homes.

In Tamil Nadu, where polling is taking place for all 39 parliamentary constituencies in a single phase, voting is progressing at brisk pace. By 11 a.m. nearly 24 per cent voting was recorded.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Film star Rajinikant, Ajith Kumar, Tamilisai Soundarrajan and Annamalai are among important personalities and celebrities who have already exercised their franchise. Akashvani correspondent reports that webcasting is being done at 65 per cent of the polling booths. Out of over six crore voters in the state, more than ten lakh are the first time voters.

Along with Lok Sabha Elections, By-polls for one seat each in Legislative Assemblies of Tamil Nadu and Tripura is also taking place today. In Tamil Nadu, voting is being held in Vilavancode Assembly Constituency while in Tripura, by poll is being held for Ramnagar Assembly Constituency.

In Assam, the 1st phase voting for the 5 parliamentary constituencies’ passes off peacefully with a voter turnout around 70.77 percent till the time of filing of this report.

Akashwani correspondent reports thats assam voted in the first phase of parliamentary elections peacefully for the Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Kaziranga constituencies. In this phase 35 candidates were in fray including several heavyweight candidates. The fates of Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Congress’s Gauirav Gogoi were sealed in EVMs in this first phase of polling.  Chief Electoral Officer, Assam informed that voting were held at 10,001 polling stations amid tight security and webcasting in around 5500 polling stations. Polling officials are bringing back the EVMs  to the strong rooms with GPS enabled tracking vehicles after the successful conclusion of voting. Meanwhile, political parties are campaigning agressively for the second and third phase of the Lok Sabha election in the state.

In Bihar, moderate polling is being witnessed in four parliamentary constituencies of Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and Aurangabad. Despite sweltering heat in poll bound areas enthusiasm is seen in youth and first-time voters. Talking to Akashvani news several voters in Gaya parliamentary constituency said it is the great milestone in their life. 

In these parliamentary constituencies 15 assembly segments are naxal affected where polling will conclude at 4 pm.

Voting is being held on six Lok Sabha seats in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh.

An average of 53.40  percent voting has taken place till 3 pm.

The highest voting percentage of 63.69 percent was recorded in Balaghat and the lowest voting percentage of 40.60 percent was recorded in Sidhi. While, Chhindwara 62.57, Jabalpur 48.05, Mandla 58.28 and Shahdol recorded 48.82 percent polling.

In Manipur, voting for the first phase Lok Sabha Election is being held for thirty assembly segments of Inner Parliamentary Constituency and fifteen assembly segments of Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency. In the Inner Lok Sabha seat, Six candidates are in fray, while four candidates are contesting for Outer Lok Sabha seat. Akashvani correspondent reports, polling has been incident free so far. Around 30 per cent voting in Inner Manipur and 26 per cent in Outer Manipur was recorded by 11 AM.

In West Bengal, voting has been largely peaceful so far except reports of some instances of violence and conflicts in Cooch Behar constituency. Election Commission has called for a report from Chief Electoral Officer of the State. A CRPF jawan died at Mathabhanga of Cooch Behar but the cause of death is yet to be ascertained.

Under first phase voting is taking place in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri. All the booths in these constituencies are under webcasting except tea garden and forest areas where micro- observers are overseeing the vote.

In Nagaland over 43 per cent voting was recorded till 1 PM for the lone Lok Sabha seat. The state witnessed brisk polling with no report of any untoward incident.

Nagaland Governor La Ganesan cast his vote at Model Polling Station, Kohima, while Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio cast his vote from Touphema village.

In Arunachal Pradesh, where simultaneous Legislative Assembly Elections are being held in single phase, over 39 per cent voting was reported till 1 PM.

In Sikkim, average voter turnout of 56 per cent in Assembly Constituencies and nearly 53 per cent in the lone Lok Sabha seat was recorded till 3 pm. At most of the polling stations voters in large numbers were seen standing in queue to exercise their franchise. So far, there is no report of any untoward incident from any part of the State.

In Chhattisgarh, polling is taking place in Maoist affected Bastar Loksabha constituency. Polling began at 7 in the morning amidst heavy security arrangements. Long queues were seen at polling booths. Over 42 per cent polling was reported till 1 pm.

In Maoist affected sensitive areas, the polling time is from 7 am to 3 p.m. while, in rest of the areas the time of polling is 7 am to 5 pm.

In Jammu and Kashmir, over 22 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Udhampur-Kathua Parliamentary Constituency. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that till 11 AM over 25 per cent polling was reported in Bani, over 15 per cent in Banihal, over 19 per cent in Basohli, over 26 per cent, in Bhaderwah, over 28 per cent in Bilawar, over 16 per cent in Chenani, over 28 per cent in Doda, over 25 per cent in Doda West, over 26 per cent in Hiranagar, over 28 per cent, in Inderwal, over 26  per cent in Jasrota, over 22 per cent in Kathua (SC), over 31 per cent in Kishtwar, over 25 per cent in Padder-Nagseni, over 23 per cent in Ramban, over 15 per cent in Ramnagar (SC), over 18 per cent in Udhampur East and over 14 per cent in Udhampur West. Long queues were witnessed exercising their franchise across the constituency amid inclement weather conditions.

In Uttar Pradesh, polling completed peacefully on the 8 seats in the first phase of general elections. As per the data of election commission around 57.71 percent polling was recorded in these constituencies. Highest polling was recorded in Saharanpur while lowest turned was in Rampur.

Our Lucknow correspondent reports that at some places polling started little late due to glitches in EVMs while in Muzaffarnagar and pilibhit some villagers boycotted the polling initially but later officials pacified them and they also agreed to cast their votes. In morning there were long queues at polling booths but as the day progressed and temperature rose, the lines became shorter. Weather changed in some pollbound areas in the evening giving much awaited respite from the scorching heat.

In Uttar Pradesh, polling completed peacefully on the 8 seats in the first phase of general elections. As per the data of election commission around 57.71 percent polling was recorded in these constituencies. Highest polling was recorded in Saharanpur while lowest turned was in Rampur.

Our Lucknow correspondent reports that at some places polling started little late due to glitches in EVMs while in Muzaffarnagar and pilibhit some villagers boycotted the polling initially but later officials pacified them and they also agreed to cast their votes. In morning there were long queues at polling booths but as the day progressed and temperature rose, the lines became shorter. Weather changed in some pollbound areas in the evening giving much awaited respite from the scorching heat.

First time voters were very enthusiastic to cast their votes. Barring some sporadic incidents polling was peaceful on all eight seats including Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Bijnaur, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. A total of 80 candidates are in fray for these elections which include seven female candidates. The Main contest is between BJP-RLD alliance, Congress- Samajwadi party alliance and Bahujan Samaj Party.

Today’s polling will decide fate of many political stalwarts like Dr. Sanjiv Baliyan, Dr. Jitin Prasad from BJP and Imran Masood from Congress.