As the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections commenced on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon all eligible voters to cast their ballots in unprecedented numbers.
PM Modi has specifically appealed to young and first-time voters to turn out in large numbers, highlighting the significance of each vote and the importance of every voice.
“The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 states and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters!” the PM said in a post on X.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first time voters to vote in large numbers. After all,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2024
The world’s largest democratic event began in the country today, marking the commencement of the first phase of a marathon process spanning seven phases to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha.
This Lok Sabha election, scheduled from April 19 to June 1, is poised to become the second lengthiest polling process in the nation’s electoral history, trailing only the inaugural general election which spanned over five months from September 1951 to February 1952. The previous general elections in 2019 were also conducted in seven phases.
Today, a total of 102 constituencies spanning 21 states and Union Territories will participate in the first phase of voting. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4.
The constituencies participating in the first phase include those from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, 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. In Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, voting will occur in all seven phases, starting from April 19.
On April 19, single-phase polling is scheduled to take place in Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Additionally, voters in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will also participate in their respective assembly elections today, as announced by the Chief Election Commissioner on March 16.
Among the total 96.8 crore registered voters, 49.72 crore are men, while 47.1 crore are women.