Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voting For Phase 1 For 102 Seats Begins, It Is 'Modi ki guarantee' Vs INDIA bloc

New Delhi: Voting for the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election is currently underway, covering 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states. Among these, Tamil Nadu takes centre-stage, the southern state that witnessed multiple visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with all 39 constituencies up for grabs.

The voting began at 7 am on Friday, amid tight security arrangements.

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To ensure the smooth conduct of the entire electoral process, a Command and Control Centre has been established at the Chief Electoral Officer's office. With 1700 cameras installed to monitor over 1500 telephone booths, the command centre will facilitate communication between the Chief Electoral Officer and various agencies and departments. Additionally, it will oversee security deployments, track the movement of vehicles assigned for election duty, and address any instances of cash seizures or violations of the electoral code of conduct.

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Tamil Nadu Takes Centre Stage
With Tamil Nadu accounting for all 39 seats in the first phase, it stands as the largest contributor from southern India. Nearly 6.23 crore electors in Tamil Nadu will cast their votes, with 950 candidates in the fray. In the 2019 elections, the DMK-led alliance secured 39 of the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's as many as nine visits to the state during the campaign underscore the BJP's efforts to gain a foothold in the state, which has so far favoured regional satraps - the Dravidian majors, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

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However, the BJP's stock in Tamil Nadu has seen a significant rise ever since K Annamalai, a former IPS officer, took charge of the party. With the party setting its sights on a formidable 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the 39-year-old has become a pivotal figure in the BJP's strategy.

In a departure from its previous strategy, the BJP has chosen to contest directly in 23 seats, eschewing alliances with either the DMK or AIADMK. The party allocated 10 seats to the PMK (keeping it separate from the AIADMK), 3 to the TMC-M, and 2 to the AMMK, while also extending support to former CM O Panneerselvam as an Independent candidate.

Political observers, including renowned strategist Prashant Kishor, have forecasted a substantial turnaround for the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Should these predictions materialise, much credit will be attributed to the BJP's prominent figure in the Dravidian state, K Annamalai.


4 Key Constituencies Up For Grab In Bihar
In Bihar, four significant Lok Sabha seats, Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamui, and Nawada are witnessing a competitive electoral battle with a total of 38 candidates in the fray. Among them, Gaya stands out with the highest number of 14 contestants. In the previous 2019 Lok Sabha elections, all four seats were clinched by the NDA. However, in 2024, the BJP has fielded its candidates for the Aurangabad and Nawada seats, while the Gaya (reserved) seat has been allotted to its ally, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular). Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, the party president, is contesting against the Mahagathbandhan candidate, Kumar Sarvajeet of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Focus On Madhya Pradesh's Tribal Belt
Moving to Madhya Pradesh, six Lok Sabha seats in the tribal belt of the Mahakoshal and Vindhya regions are voting in the first phase. Notably, in Chhindwara, former State Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s son and incumbent MP Nakul Nath is contesting on the Congress ticket, facing a challenge from the BJP’s Vivek Bunty Sahu. Out of these six seats, the Congress currently holds only one, with the BJP remaining five. A total of 88 candidates are vying for victory in this phase.

Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur-Doda constituency Goes To Polls
Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur-Doda constituency is the sole Parliament seat going to polls in the first phase. The BJP’s Jitendra Singh, a Union Minister known for his proximity to the Prime Minister, is contesting against the Congress’ Chaudhary Lal Singh and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party’s G.M. Saroori. This electoral contest is marked by a unique demographic composition, with Muslim-majority districts like Ramban and Doda juxtaposed against Hindu-majority districts like Kathua and Udhampur. The poll narrative has been shaped by the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, with parties like the National Conference and the Congress criticising the delay in granting Statehood to J&K and holding Assembly elections, while the BJP has highlighted the positive outcomes of ending J&K’s special status.

In Rajasthan, twelve out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats will witness voting in the first phase. Notable candidates include Amra Ram in Sikar and Hanuman Beniwal in Nagaur, representing the INDIA bloc. The Congress, in alliance with the INDIA bloc, hopes to win over communities like the Gujjars and Jats, while the BJP aims to maintain its stronghold in the state. Recent agitation by Jats from Bharatpur and Dholpur districts, demanding inclusion in the Central Other Backward Classes (OBC) list, could influence the electoral dynamics.

RSS HQ To Vote In First Phase
In Maharashtra, five constituencies are polling, including Nagpur, the home city of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Union Minister and BJP stalwart Nitin Gadkari is seeking re-election from Nagpur. Other seats voting in this phase are Chandrapur, Ramtek, Gadchiroli-Chimur, and Bhandara-Gondia. While the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured victories in four of these seats in 2019, the Congress emerged victorious in Chandrapur.

3 Lok Sabha Seats Up For Grab In West Bengal

West Bengal will witness polling in three seats amidst a spirited campaign by the Trinamool Congress, BJP, and the Left-Congress alliance, all vying for electoral supremacy in the state.

In Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, concurrent Assembly elections are being held alongside the Lok Sabha polls. In Arunachal Pradesh, voting will take place in 50 out of the total 60 Assembly seats, with the BJP facing no opposition in 10 seats. A total of 133 candidates, including seven women, are competing in these elections. The BJP is contesting in 50 seats, followed by the Congress in 19 seats. The National People’s Party and the Nationalist Congress Party are contesting 20 and 14 seats, respectively.

Meanwhile, in Sikkim, 147 candidates are vying for the 32 Assembly seats, with 12 of them being women. The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), led by Prem Singh Tamang, is optimistic about retaining power after parting ways with the BJP before the Assembly polls.

However, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which held power in Tripura for over 24 years, has reportedly failed to garner significant voter support. While the Congress has seen a decline in its influence in the state, the emergence of the BJP and the Citizen Action Party, a new entity formed just before the polls, adds an element of unpredictability to the electoral landscape.

How Parties Ran Their Campaigns For The First Phase
In the lead-up to the first phase of polling, political parties campaigned vigorously across the country. The BJP centred its campaign around the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the Prime Minister being the focal point of their rallies and roadshows. The ruling party's manifesto highlighted Modi's "guarantees," and his extensive campaigning across the nation positioned him as the "star campaigner" for the alliance.

On the other hand, the Opposition INDIA bloc through its campaign targeted the ruling party over unemployment, farmers' distress and price rise. Campaign efforts within the coalition were focused on addressing concerns related to women, youth, and farmers, with the manifesto reflecting these promises.