LS Election 2024: Polling for Phase 1 ends with voter turnout lower than 2019
Polling for the first Phase of Lok Sabha elections was held Friday April 19, 2024 for 102 seats spread across 21 States and Union Territories (UTs) with reports of violence and protest against the Electronic Voting Machines from some states.
New Delhi: Polling for the first Phase of Lok Sabha elections was held Friday April 19, 2024 for 102 seats spread across 21 States and Union Territories (UTs) with reports of violence and protest against the Electronic Voting Machines from some states.
The average voter turnout till 9 pm was 62.37 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India, a number which is lower than the 2019 elections when the polling percentage was 69.43%.
The highest polling percentage was recorded in Tripura at 80.17 followed by West Bengal which register a voter turnout of 77.57%.
The lowest turnout recorded in Bihar is 47.49%.
Reports of violence are coming from Manipur, Rajasthan and some other states.
In Nagpur from where senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is contesting the 2024 Parliament Elections, a Dalit youth protested against the Electronic Voting Machines. (EVM).
Poll analysts say the lower turnout can harm the BJP chances in at least 16 of the 40 seats the party had won in 2019.
State-wise Polling Percentage
[Glimpses of polling officials navigating the vibrant landscapes of Northeast India to ensure every vote counts. (Photo: Election Commission of India/X)]
The 102 seats which went to the polls in the first phase of India's General Elections Friday, included all of the 39 seats of Tamil Nadu, 12 in Rajasthan (50.95%), 08 in Uttar Pradesh (57.61%), 06 in Madhya Pradesh (63.33%), 05 each in Uttarakhand(53.64%), Assam (71.38%) and Maharashtra (55.29%), 04 in Bihar (47.49%), 03 in West Bengal (77.57%), 02 each in Arunachal Pradesh (65.46%), Manipur (68.62%), Meghalaya (70.29%), and 01 each in Chhattisgarh (63.41%), Mizoram (54.18 %), Nagaland (56.77%), Sikkim (68.06%), Tripura (79.90%), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (56.87%), Jammu and Kashmir (65.08%), Lakshadweep (59.02%), and Puducherry (73.25%).
"The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained as polling is scheduled till 6 PM in many Constituencies. But, voters reaching the Polling stations till the end of polling hour are allowed to cast their vote", the Election Commission of India said.
"Final figures will be known tomorrow after the scrutiny of form 17A", the ECI said.
Violence and Protest
The Election Commission of India claimed largely peaceful polling but there are reports of firing from Bishnupur in Manipur and clashes in Cooch Behar, West Bengal.
There is also reports of grenade blast in Bijapur Chhattisgarh. The blast left a Commandant and Jawan injured.
Clashes bewteen the BJP and Congress supporters took place in Naguar Parliament seat of Rajasthan.
In North Nagpur of Maharashtra, a Dalit youth shouted slogans against EVM and threw ink on the machine, disrupting voting.
In Nagpur, a large number of Muslim women voters protested at the DM office claiming their names were missing from the voter list.
In Maharashtra’s Chandrapur, Congress accused the Returning Officer of helping the BJP candidate.
Disadvantage BJP in 1st Phase?
Poll analysts after the Phase 1 Polling assessed that it will be difficult for the BJP to repeat its 2019 performance.
The analysts said the BJP held all 12 seats of Rajasthan in 2019 but the party is facing problem in at least 06 seats that are likely to go to the Congress led INDIA alliance in 2024.
The 08 seats of Uttar Pradesh that held to vote Friday, 03 each are with the BJP and BSP, and 02 seats were won by Samajwadi Party (SP) in 2019.
The BSP and SP had contested the 2019 election together whereas SP has tied up with the Congress for the 2024 Polls.
Prominent seats which recorded lower voter turnout in Uttar Pradesh included Pilibhit, Muzaffarnagar and Kairana all three currently held by the BJP.
Chhindwara Parliamentary seat from where former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath’s son, Nakul Nath, is contesting also reported lower voter turnout.
Higher vote percentage in West Bengal could be favourable for the BJP which is in direct contest with the ruling TMC.
PM Modi’s focus was South for the 2024 elections, especially Tamil Nadu and Kerala where the party could not win a single seat. Analysts claimed the situation is likely to remain for the BJP this time also. The elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will be held in 07 Phases. Polling for the 2nd Phase will be held on April 26, 2024.
The counting of votes of all the seven phases will be held simultaneously on June 04, 2024.
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