Lok Sabha 2024 polls: Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar urges first-time voters to “go for change” at national level

As the second phase of Lok Sabha voting commenced, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged first-time voters to seek change, highlighting that the BJP has been in power for a decade and advocating for the Congress party to be given a chance. He expressed confidence that Congress would secure over 20 seats in the state’s 28 parliamentary constituencies.

“Karnataka is going to poll; the state is giving very big results and people are very happy as whatever we said in the last elections we have delivered. Women are cutting across the party line, all of them are favouring us and I thank all of them. For the first-time voters- the youth of this country, I have to say that Congress has put up a beautiful manifesto. You have to make a change as it is needed, you have given 10 years and now let’s go for a change,” he said.

He also asserted that Congress will cross 20 seats out this time in the State which has 28 parliamentary constituencies.

Earlier today, BJP candidate from Bengaluru South constituency, Tejasvi Surya, cast his vote in Bengaluru and stated that the Congress party may not win more than 30 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

“Congress party has become absolutely frustrated. Survey after survey shows that it may not win more than 30 seats… The more personal attacks and baseless allegations they make against the PM, history has shown that the Prime Minister has only gotten stronger and the BJP has only gotten more popular,” he said.

Karnataka is voting on 14 seats today in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.

The second phase has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across 13 States/Union Territory, including 13 in Rajasthan, 20 in Kerala, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur, and Jammu & Kashmir.

34.8 lakh first-time voters are registered to cast their votes. Additionally, there are 3.28 crore young voters in the age group of 20-29 years. 1202 candidates (males: 1098; females: 102; third gender: 02) are in the fray.