Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE Updates: Bengal Records Highest Turnout, Bihar Lowest
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voting Live: Stay with The Quint for all the latest news and updates on Phase 1 polling.
Lok Sabha Election 2024 latest news, live updates, polling percentage of Phase 1 Voting
(Photo: Aroop Mishra/The Quint)
Voting in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Begins
Here's a state-wise breakup of the 102 parliamentary constituencies where voting is being held in Phase 1 on Friday, 19 April:
Tamil Nadu: 39 seats
Rajasthan: 12 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 8 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 6 seats
Uttarakhand: 5 seats
Maharashtra: 5 seats
Assam: 5 seats
Bihar: 4 seats
West Bengal: 3 seats
Meghalaya: 2 seats
Arunachal Pradesh: 2 seats
Manipur: 2 seats
One seat each in Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Puducherry, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep
Who Are the Key Candidates Contesting in Phase 1?
The key candidates in the fray in the seats voting in the first phase include:
K Kanimozhi (DMK): Thoothukkudi
Tamilsai Soundarajan (BJP): Chennai South
K Annamalai (BJP): Coimbatore
Dayanidhi Maran (DMK): Chennai Central
O Panneerselvam (BJP backed Independent): Ramanathapuram
Nitin Gadkari (BJP): Nagpur
Gaurav Gogoi (Congress): Jorhat
Sarbananda Sonowal (BJP) vs Lurinjyoti Gogoi (AJP): Dibrugarh
Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-S): Gaya
Chandrashekhar Azad 'Ravan' (ASP): Nagina
Jitin Prasada (BJP): Pilibhit
Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP): Bikaner
Hanuman Beniwal (RLP) vs Jyoti Mirdha (BJP): Nagaur
Imran Masood (Congress): Saharanpur
Trivendra Singh Rawat (BJP): Haridwar
Kiren Rijiju (BJP): Arunachal West
Biplab Kumar Deb (BJP): Tripura West
Jitendra Singh (BJP): Udhampur
What's at Stake in Tamil Nadu?
With voting in all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu being held in the first phase itself, the state is set to witness a three-way battle as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) – the two well-entrenched Dravidian parties – take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
'Vote in Record Numbers': PM Modi
"As 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs are going to polls, I appeal to all those voting for these constituencies to vote in record numbers. I especially appeal to young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers," Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X.
'Absolutely Confident': Congress' Chidambaram Votes From Sivaganga
Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram cast his vote from Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga constituency, where his son and incumbent MP Karti Chidambaram is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against the BJP's Devanathan Yadav and AIADMK's A Xavierd.
"I am very happy and proud that I have been able to cast my vote in the Lok Sabha elections. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, I am absolutely confident that the INDIA group will win all 39 Parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu. This is the first phase of elections, there are seven phases. Today all of Tamil Nadu votes and I am absolutely confident that we will win all seats," Chidambaram was quoted as saying by ANI.
Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Annamalai Casts Vote
K Annamalai, the state unit president of the BJP who is contesting from Coimbatore, got his finger inked at a polling booth on Friday morning.
"People of Tamil Nadu are with PM Modi. We are confident, our party is strong and the people are with us and June 4 will be a historic result for NDA...In Karnataka, we are expecting a clean sweep this time. BJP will be the number-one party in Telangana... Tamil Nadu this time will deliver a very big resounding result, an increase in vote share...Dravidian politics time is over...," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Coimbatore is set to witness a close contest as the DMK and the AIADMK – the two well-entrenched Dravidian titans – take on IPS officer-turned-politician and 'Singham Anna' Annamalai.
What was the mood of voters in Coimbatore ahead of the Lok Sabha elections? Read here.
'Defeat Hatred': Congress' Rahul Gandhi Tells Voters
"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 balm of your vote to the wounds inflicted on the soul of the nation in the last 10 years," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted in Hindi on Phase 1 voting day.
"Defeat hatred and open the 'shop of love' in every corner," the Wayanad Lok Sabha candidate added.
'No Space for BJP': DMK Leader Kanimozhi
"In Tamil Nadu, I do not even think they (BJP) will come to the second place. The fight is clearly between DMK and AIADMK. BJP does not find space here...In Tamil Nadu, INDIA alliance will get 39 seats and 1 seat in Puducherry...," DMK leader and Thoothukkudi Lok Sabha candidate Kanimozhi was quoted as saying.
She had echoed similar thoughts of "freeing India from the BJP" while speaking with The Quint in March.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma Cast Their Votes
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma waits in a queue to cast his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Phase 1 Voter Turnout Percentages Till 9am
Based on data from polling stations, the Election Commission has released the approximate voter turnout percentages for the following states till 9am on Friday, 19 April:
Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 8.64%
Arunachal Pradesh: 6.92%
Assam: 11.15%
Bihar: 9.23%
Chhattisgarh:12.02%
Jammu and Kashmir: 10.43%
Lakshadweep: 5.59%
Madhya Pradesh: 15.00%
Maharashtra: 6.98%
Manipur: 12.04%
Meghalaya: 13.71%
Mizoram: 14.87%
Nagaland: 12.43%
Puducherry: 12.27%
Rajasthan: 10.67%
Sikkim: 7.92%
Tamil Nadu: 9.21%
Tripura: 15.21%
Uttar Pradesh: 12.66%
Uttarakhand: 10.54%
West Bengal: 15.09%
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Casts Vote From Nagpur
BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Nagpur Nitin Gadkari with his wife shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Tripura CM Manik Saha Casts His Vote From Agartala
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections. Voting is being held in Tripura West constituency in Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha elections.
A PSA for First-Time Voters
Data from the Election Commission reveals that over 1.8 crore first-time voters within the 18-19 age group have registered to exercise their right to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. But this figure is less than 40 percent of the estimated 18 and 19-year-old Indians eligible to vote.
So, why should India's young voters turn up at the polling booth this election? Watch here:
Actor Rajnikanth Casts His Vote From Chennai
Actor Rajinikanth shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections.
Phase 1 Voter Turnout Percentages Till 11am
Based on data from polling stations, the Election Commission has released the approximate voter turnout percentages for the following states till 11am on Friday, 19 April:
Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 21.82%
Arunachal Pradesh: 18.74%
Assam: 27.22%
Bihar: 20.42%
Chhattisgarh: 28.12%
Jammu and Kashmir: 22.60%
Lakshadweep: 16.33%
Madhya Pradesh: 30.46%
Maharashtra: 19.17%
Manipur: 28.19%
Meghalaya: 32.61%
Mizoram: 26.56%
Nagaland: 22.82%
Puducherry: 28.10%
Rajasthan: 22.51%
Sikkim: 21.20%
Tamil Nadu: 23.72%
Tripura: 34.54%
Uttar Pradesh: 25.20%
Uttarakhand: 24.83%
West Bengal: 33.56%
Voters Accuse Arambai Tenggol of Booth Capturing in Manipur's Imphal
"How dare they deny me my right to vote," yelled a woman sitting at a polling booth in Manipur's Imphal amid allegations that members of the Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei radical outfit, were capturing polling booths and casting votes in the place of others.
'Vote Without Fail': Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin arrived at a polling booth in Chennai on Friday, 19 April to cast his vote along with his wife Durga Stalin during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing the media, CM Stalin said, “I have exercised my right to vote. I urge everyone to come out and cast their vote without fail.”
Voting commenced across Tamil Nadu at 7 am and will come to a close by 6 pm. While the DMK-led alliance is hoping to repeat its 2019 outcome, where they won 38 out of 39 seats, the BJP is looking to make inroads into the state.
Poll Violence Reported in Bengal, Chhattisgarh
As three Lok Sabha constituencies (Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri) in West Bengal headed to polls, BJP and TMC workers accused each other of being behind the violence reported in the state on Friday, 19 April.
The BJP alleged that TMC supporters in Chandamari had pelted stones and injured the party's booth president. Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerjee-led party claimed that their workers had been attacked by BJP workers in Sitalkuchi and Chotosalbari Gram Panchayats, according to a report by The Indian Express.
"The instances of violence, whether during elections or otherwise, are very very disturbing. In the last few months, I can only speak about the period I took over as the Governor, I have been focusing on reducing violence in the state. I understand that all stakeholders in the process - the civil society, the government, the political parties, the silent majority, youth, women and media - all have a stake in this. Unless all of them work together, we cannot reduce or end violence in Bengal," West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose was quoted as saying by PTI.
In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan has reportedly suffered injuries from a grenade cell blast on Phase 1 polling day. Voting is underway in the state's conflict-ridden Bastar region where over 29 Maoists were reportedly killed by security forces in a major operation earlier this week.
Three Injured in Firing at Manipur Polling Booth
Miscreants opened fire at a polling station in Thamanpokpi in Manipur's Moirang Assembly segment. The incident has left three individuals injured.
Furthermore, reports of vandalism have also emerged from a polling station in the Thongju Assembly seat, located in Manipur's Imphal East district. These incidents have occurred amidst the ongoing voting process in the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Manipur has registered a voter turnout of over 29 percent till 11am, according to the Election Commission.
SP Candidate Alleges Booth Capturing in Muzaffarnagar
In a letter addressed to the Election Commission, Muzaffarnagar INDIA bloc candidate and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Harendra Singh Malik accused "BJP agents" of capturing a polling booth in Kutba village, according to a report by PTI.
He further requested that paramilitary forces be deployed to the area, the report added.
Estimated Voter Turnout Till 3 pm at 49.78%: ECI
The estimated voter turnout for the first phase of the Lok Sabha till 3 pm stood at 49.78 percent, said the Election Commission of Commission.
Lok Sabha Election 2024, Phase 1 Voting Live Updates: Voting for the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections commenced on Friday, 19 April at 7 am.
Over 102 parliamentary constituencies in 21 states and union territories headed to the polling booth on Friday, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As per Election Commission data, a voter turnout of nearly 60 percent was recorded till 5pm across these 102 seats and 21 states.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections is a massive exercise with voting to be held in seven phases across the country over the next six weeks (44 days), concluding with the counting of votes on 4 June. The legislative Assembly elections for four states (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha) are also being held simultaneously.
This parliamentary elections, Narendra Modi is not only eyeing a third straight term as prime minister but has also declared that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will cross the 400-seat mark in the 543-strong Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, the Congress and 25 other Opposition parties have joined hands to form the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and deny the Modi government another win.
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
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(Photo Courtesy: @SpokespersonECI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
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Polling booths opened for voting in Phase 1 at 7am and closed at 6pm.
The highest voter turnout during polling under Phase 1 till 7 pm was recorded in West Bengal at 77.57 percent.
Bihar witnessed the lowest turnout at 47.49 percent till 7 pm.
The estimated average voter turnout stood at 60 percent .
Over 16.63 crore voters are expected to cast their votes at around 1.87 lakh polling stations in Phase 1.
Out of this, 35.67 lakh people will be casting their votes for the first time.
A total of 1,625 candidates were in the fray in states under Phase 1.
The largest number of seats headed to polls in Phase 1 was from south India.
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