India’s National Election 2024 Phase 1: Voting in 21 States Today – 10 Key Points

The ongoing election has seen the allocation of seats within various states, with five seats each in Assam and Maharashtra, four in Bihar, three in West Bengal, two in Manipur, and one in each of Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. Additionally, four states – Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh – will also hold legislative assemblies alongside the Lok Sabha election.

Today, Arunachal Pradesh (60 seats) and Sikkim (32 seats) are holding their elections. At 1 pm, voter turnout was recorded at 39.5% in Tamil Nadu, 33.7% in Rajasthan, 37% in Uttar Pradesh, and 44.4% in Madhya Pradesh.

The average turnout across the 102 seats was 24.5% at 9 am. In Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, the voter turnout for their respective state polls was recorded at 21.2% and 19.5%.

There were reports of sporadic violence in Bengal, with clashes between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in Cooch Behar. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and assault on poll agents were reported, with both parties filing complaints related to these issues.

In Manipur, there were reports of gunfire at a polling station in Bishnupur, and vandalism at a polling station in Imphal East district. Additionally, two elderly people died at separate polling booths in Salem district in Tamil Nadu.

The ruling NDA has been set a target of 400 seats by the Prime Minister. In the previous election, the NDA won 353 seats, with the BJP securing 303 seats.

The opposition bloc INDIA has faced disarray leading up to the polls, but has stood together following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a liquor policy case. The BJP is aiming to win 22 out of 25 seats in the northeast, dominate the Hindi heartland, make gains in Jammu, Gujarat, and Bengal, and make inroads in Odisha and Karnataka.

The Congress is projecting improved performance in northern states and confidence about results in the south, with senior leaders participating in the contests.