Lok Sabha Elections 2024: India records 64 percent of voter turnout; Check state-wise data as phase one concludes

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.

With 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.

Notable contenders in fray

Among 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 Congress's Gaurav Gogoi, DMK's Kanimozhi, and BJP's Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai are vying for electoral success.

Expectations and projections

As 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 results

The 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.