The much-awaited Lok Sabha elections day is finally here. Today, the nation will cast their ballots for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls across 102 seats and 21 states and Union Terrorities. In the view of the same, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his social media account on X, urging people to go vo for voting and exercise their right to vote.


PM Modi stated: "The biggest festival of democracy is starting today! In the first phase of voting for the Lok Sabha elections, votes will be cast for 102 seats in 21 states and union territories. I urge all voters from these constituencies to exercise their voting rights and set a new record for voter turnout."


He also urged the first-time voters to vote saying, "To my young friends who are going to vote for the first time, I appeal to them to vote in large numbers. Every vote is precious in a democracy, and every voice matters!"





 Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also urged the voters to go for polling saying, "Apne sunere bhavishye ke liye vote zarur dale" (Be sure to vote for your bright future)".




Union Home Minister Amit Shah also appealed to the voters to exercise their voting rights saying, "It is an important day today, as the first phase of voting is taking place in the country. I appeal to all the voters who are voting in this phase to vote in large numbers because every vote of yours 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," he added.



The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is seeking a third successive term under PM Modi. However, the Opposition is hoping for a change in their fortune as they are set to contest the polls under the I.N.D.I.A. bloc.


States & UTs To Go For Polling In Phase 1


Voting will begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm today in all seats of Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Sikkim (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Lakshadweep (1), Uttarakhand (5),Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Puducherry (1), and Tamil Nadu (39). 


Besides, there will be polling in 12 seats in Rajasthan, 8 in Uttar Pradesh, 6 in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Maharashtra, 4 in Bihar, 3 in West Bengal, 2 seats in Manipur, and one seat each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh.


Simultaneously, assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh (60 seats) and Sikkim (32 seats) will also be held today. 


The Election Commission has deployed around 18 lakh polling personnel across 1.87 lakh polling stations where over 16.63 crore voters will exercise their right to vote.


Those eligible to cast their votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections include 8.4 crore men, 8.23 crore women and 11,371 from third gender.


Additionally, there are almost 35.67 lakh first time voters, besides 3.51 crore young voters in the age group of 20-29 years.


Campaigning for the first phase had ended on Wednesday evening.


Those among the fray for the first phase include Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Sarbanada Sonowal and Bhupendra Yadav, Gaurav Gogoi of Congress, DMK's Kanimozhi and K Annamalai of  the Bharatiya Janata Party.


Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh, Sanjeev Baliyan, L Murugan, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Nisith Pramanik are also among the contestants  besides two former chief ministers - Biplab Kumar Deb (Tripura) and Nabam Tuki (Arunachal Pradesh), and former governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan.





In 2019, NDA had won 41 seats out of the 102 seats going to polls today, while the UPA bloc had won 45 seats.


In 2024 electoons, six of these seats have been redrawn as part of the delimitation exercise.


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