• Source:JND
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Lok Sabha 2024 First Phase: The voting ended on Friday evening for the first phase of the seven-phased 2024 Lok Sabha election. The polling in the first phase was conducted on 102 Lok Sabha seats spread across 21 states and Union territories. According to the data by the Election Commission of India, a total of 62.37 per cent voter turnout was recorded at 7 p.m.

The polling for India's parliamentary election, the largest democratic exercise in the world, began at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. for over 16.63 crore people eligible to vote in the first phase. There were 35.67 lakh eligible first-time voters, besides 3.51 crore young voters in the 20–29 age groups.

(Image: Voters pose for a picture at a photo booth after casting their vote for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections)

A Look Back At The First Phase Of Voting

The polling in the first phase largely remained peaceful, except for sporadic incidents of violence in Manipur and West Bengal were reported. In strife-torn Manipur, reports of vandalisation of polling booths, firing, and clashes was reported. According to police officials, incidents of vandalisation of polling booths, damage to the EVMs by angry voters, firing between rival groups, and clashes among the rival party supporters were reported from Bishnupur, Imphal East, and Imphal West districts. A total of six individuals were injured in the incident. The election officials said that they are collecting the details of the incidents in different parts of the state. The state reported a 68 per cent voter turnout.

In Bengal, the polling in the first two hours for three Lok Sabha constituencies was marred by incidents of violence in the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency. Some cases of violence were reported from the Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha constituency as well. Alipurduar, however, was an exception, with no report of poll-related violence in the first two hours.

Voter Turnout: A Numerical Lens

Tripura is leading the charts after it recorded a 79.90 voting percentage in the state till 7 p.m., as per the data released by the Election Commission of India. According to the poll body data at 7 p.m., Bengal stands in second place, with a total of 77.57 poll percentage. It was followed by Puducherry, which recorded 73.25 per cent voter turnout, Assam (71.38 per cent), Chhattisgarh (63.41 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (65.08 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (63.25 per cent) Manipur (68.58 per cent), Meghalaya (69.91 per cent), Mizoram (52.91 per cent), Nagaland (55.97 per cent), Puducherry (72.84 per cent), Sikkim (68.06 per cent).

In Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, where the polling is being held in single-phase, 62.08 per cent and 53.56 per cent of voting was recorded respectively. The polling percentage was relatively low till 5 p.m. in Bihar (46.32 per cent), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (56.87 per cent), Lakshadweep (59.02 per cent), Maharashtra (54.85 per cent), Rajasthan (50.27 per cent).

The voter turnout in Arunachal Pradesh was 63.92 per cent and 68.06 per cent in Sikkim. 

(Lok Sabha Polls: Image captured during the first phase of polling, source- ANI)

First Phase And 2019 LS Result: A Look-Back

In all the 102 seats that went for the polls on Friday, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 43 seats, and parties in the INDIA bloc won 48 seats in the 2019 election. While the BJP-led NDA is seeking its third consecutive tenure in office, the opposition alliance has come together as INDIA bloc and is hoping to oust the ruling bloc from power. 

The poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission on March 16. The Lok Sabha polls is scheduled to be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The results will be announced on June 4.