Millions Step Out to Cast Votes in Phase 1 of India’s Lok Sabha Elections

65.4% polling was recorded in Round 1 of India’s national elections.

20 April 2024

By Khushi Maheshwari

Orchestrating an electoral process in the world’s biggest democracy is a mammoth task on its own. Phase 1 of polling commenced on Friday with a voter turnout of about 62.73%. Polling was conducted in 102 out of a total of 543 Lok Sabha seats, spread over 21 states and Union territories.

However, the voting did not happen without chaos. Isolated instances of violence were reported in Manipur and West Bengal.

Bihar recorded the lowest voter turnout with a disappointing 48.50% while Tripura shone in the number of voters with a staggering 80.17% till 9 pm. 

Tamil Nadu saw a drop in voters from 72.4% in 2019 to 67.2%. It was the only state with polling in all its seats. Ganganagar in Rajasthan came out with the highest number of voters while Jhunjhunu recorded the lowest. 

The eastern parts of the country were tainted with violence, with BJP workers and TMC workers clashing and pointing fingers at each other in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar for instigating fights with poll agents, pressurising voters and getting violent with each other. However, the police blatantly repudiated any claims of such violence taking place. 

The situation was worse in the north-eastern state of Manipur, a place which has endured the bruises of communal and ethnic conflicts for almost a year now. Spontaneous gunfire was reported from a polling station in Bishnupur. Imphal reported an instance of vandalism, whereas in Tamil Nadu, two senior citizens lost their lives in Salem district’s polling booths. 

The opposition Congress party is heavily banking on a wildcard to the North, where most states have abandoned it. On the other hand, the ruling BJP has hopes tied to the southern parts of the country where the conditions for it are not very favourable. Apart from that, it also wants to make a dent in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal. 

The elections will take place in 7 phases and determine 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The final count will be conducted on 4th June.