The first phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections across 21 states and Union territories has been completed. Over 60% of eligible voters had cast their ballots across the participating regions. This phase encompasses constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.As per ECI, Tripura recorded 80.17% voter turnout till 9 pm, in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections which saw polling in 21 States and UTs pic.twitter.com/cOmuEKzqwa— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024With over 16.63 crore voters, comprising both men and women in equal numbers, slated to exercise their franchise at nearly 2 lakh polling stations, the electoral process is witnessing robust participation.#LokSabhaElections2024 | 77.57 % voter turnout was recorded in West Bengal Lok Sabha elections and 46.32 % in Bihar, an average of 59.71 % in the first phase till 5 PM. pic.twitter.com/xazUSvNmvt— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024Notable contenders in frayAmong the prominent figures contesting in this phase are several Union ministers, including Nitin Gadkari, Bhupendra Yadav, Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Sarbananda Sonowal. Moreover, key opposition candidates such as Congresss Gaurav Gogoi, DMKs Kanimozhi, and BJPs Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai are vying for electoral success.West Bengal records 77.57% voter turnout till 5pm, the highest amongst the State/UTs voting in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls today. pic.twitter.com/uOFl9vuUJ0— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024Expectations and projectionsAs the BJP-led NDA seeks to strengthen its majority, the opposition INDIA bloc eyes a potential resurgence. Notably, in the previous 2019 elections, the UPA secured victory in 45 out of the 102 contested seats, while the NDA clinched 41. Notably, six of these seats have been redrawn as part of the delimitation exercise, adding a layer of complexity to the electoral landscape.Upcoming phases and resultsThe general elections, spanning seven phases from April 19 to June 1, which will elect 543 members to the 18th Lok Sabha. The anticipation mounts as the nation awaits the announcement of results on June 4, which will determine the composition of the next parliamentary body.
