Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 1 LIVE: Bengal sees highest voter turnout among states, UTs till 5 pm

An SUV carrying an electronic voting machine partially sank into a river after water level rose suddenly washing away a mechanised boat that was ferrying the vehicle in Assam’s Lakhimpur constituency on Friday, officials said.

The driver and the polling officer of the vehicle managed to get out before water gushed into the vehicle, an official said.

It was on its way to Amarpur area in Sadiya to replace an EVM after a technical glitch was detected in it as polling commenced in the morning, the official said.

AIMIM President & candidate from Hyderabad constituency Asaduddin Owaisi files nomination for Lok Sabha elections.

Polling picked up momentum in Puducherry through the morning as the union territory gets set to elect their lone representative to the Lok Sabha, on Friday.

A visit to some of the polling stations in the rural areas brought to the fore a mixed picture of voter turnout, which was mediocre in some places and high in others.

Voters turned up before commencement of the polls at most of the booths, official sources said. In one of the polling stations in Mudaliarpet assembly constituency, the VVPAT developed some snags and there was a delay of 45 minutes in the commencement of polling.

Official sources told PTI that as soon as the VVPAT developed technical snags, the engineers of BEL were called to rectify the defects.

Criticising the Congress for becoming 'outdated' and losing its relevance in the country’s political spectrum, Defence Minister Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said BJP does politics for the sake of the nation building and not merely for coming to power.

He claimed that due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention the war between Russia and Ukraine was stopped for over four hours to facilitate India to evacuate its citizens.

“I want to say that the Congress has become completely outdated. Congress is continuously losing its relevance from Indian politics. Congress indulged in appeasement politics. When it comes to politics, BJP doesn’t do politics on caste, creed, and religion, but it is based on justice and humanity,” the defence minister said.

“When it comes to BJP, we don’t do politics just to form the government. We are the party who does politics for the sake of national building,” he asserted.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday dismissed apprehensions about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and assured people that their vote was safe and secure.

Kumar asserted that the EVMs were 100% safe as a large number of safeguards – technological, administrative and process-oriented – were in place.

"It is a settled issue. It is 100% safe. It has been raised in the honourable Court also. We are awaiting judgment, nothing can happen to the machines. Every stage political parties and their candidates are involved. Mock polls are done," he said to questions on doubts raised on the EVMs.

"There are a large number of safeguards, technological, administrative, and process-oriented. Just enjoy the voting. This is a time to enjoy the voting, not doubt anything," the CEC said.

"Enjoy your voting, your vote is safe, secure and will be recorded as you vote," Kumar said.

Voting was shut at multiple polling booths in Manipur after ruckus broke out, an officer told ANI. A total of 5 booths were impacted-- 2 in East Imphal and 3 in West Imphal. Some women alleged irregularities and forcefully entered the area, news agency ANI reported.

Braving incessant rains, an estimated 43 per cent of voters registered their choice by 1 pm on Friday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency, officials said.

Polling began at 7 am in 2,637 polling stations across the constituency and was going on peacefully with no untoward incident reported, they said, adding that there are 12 candidates in the fray.

Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is eyeing a third term after winning the Udhampur seat for the BJP in 2014 and 2019, is contesting against Congress leader and two-time former MP Choudhary Lal Singh and the DPAP's G M Saroori, besides six independents.

This is the first major electoral battle after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories in 2019.

Braving inclement weather, early voters were seen heading for polling stations before the start of voting, the officials said, adding more than 11,000 polling staff, including reserve, have been deployed while security arrangements are foolproof to ensure free and fair elections.

As the weather conditions improved in most places around noon, long queues started forming outside polling stations in the constituency that encompasses an expansive area of 16,707 square kilometres. It consists of 18 Assembly segments spanning across five districts -- Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua.

Six districts of eastern Nagaland wore a deserted look on Friday as people stayed indoors following an indefinite shutdown call by the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO), an apex body of the seven tribal organisations of the area, to press for its demand for a separate state.

Sources said while the situation is peaceful, there is no movement of any person or vehicles except that of the district administration and other emergency services.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland Awa Loring said election officials are stationed in the 738 polling stations in the six districts of the region.

Sources added there was no voter turnout till 11am. Polling comes to an end at 4pm.

Former President Pratibha Patil, aged 90 and currently unwell, will exercise her voting right for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency during the general elections by availing the vote-from-home facility, her close aide said on Friday.

Patil has been unwell for the past one month and she finds it challenging to visit the polling station to cast her vote, he said.

Consequently, her office submitted an application to the district administration requesting permission for her to vote from home, he said.

"And we received a positive response from the district administration," the aide said.

Polling for the Pune Lok Sabha seat will be held on May 13.

BJP chief JP Nadda launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi on Friday accusing the Congress's Wayanad Lok Sabha candidate of believing in dynastic rule, which, according to him, is detrimental to Indian democracy.

Campaigning for the BJP-led NDA candidate in Wayanad, K Surendran, the senior BJP leader alleged that Gandhi was practicing the policy of "divide and rule" and "vote bank politics" in the country.

"Rahul Gandhi believes in the politics of appeasement. He represents dynastic rule and engages in vote bank politics," Nadda said while speaking at a roadshow organised in Sulthan Bathery in this hill constituency.

"Rahul Gandhi believes in dynastic rule, which is detrimental for Indian democracy," the BJP chief charged.

Over 22% voter turnout was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Friday in 12 parliamentary constituencies of Rajasthan where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, officials said.

According to the Election Commission, polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and about 22.59% voting took place till 11 am.

The highest voter turnout of 27.70% was recorded in the Ganganagar Lok Sabha seat while Jhunjhunu saw the lowest turnout of 18.91%, it said.

There are 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan. In the first phase, voting is being held in the Churu, Nagaur, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Dausa Lok Sabha seats, and 114 candidates are in the fray.

"Today I have filed my nomination from the Gandhinagar seat. It is a matter of pride for me that this seat was represented by LK Advani, Atal ji and the seat where Narendra Modi himself is a voter. I have been an MLA, MP from this seat for 30 years. The people of this region have given me immense love," Home Minister Amit Shah says after filing his nomination.

A average voter turnout of 25.20% was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Friday in eight parliamentary constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh where voting is underway in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election.

Polling began at 7 am and according to the Election Commission, till 11 am, 29.84% voting was reported in Saharanpur, 23.35% in Moradabad, 25.89% in Kairana, 26.89% in Nagina, 26.94% in Pilibhit, 25.50% in Bijnor, 20.71% in Rampur and 22.62% in Muzaffarnagar.

Unknown miscreants fired rounds around a polling station in Thamanpokpi under the Moirang Assembly, India Today reported. Two constituencies are voting in the northeastern state today. No casualtities have been reported so far.

American diplomat Atul Keshap congratulated India for holding its grand 18th Lok Sabha elections. The first of seven phases began on the morning of April 19.

"With 970 million eligible voters and 1.2 million polling places, India's national election is the Maha Kumbh Mela of Democracy," the diplomat wrote on social media. He also posted a photo of the Indian tricolour.

Nearly 11% polling was recorded in the early hours of voting for Lok Sabha elections in Uttarakhand on Friday, poll officials here said.

Polling began at 7 am and by 9 am 10.54% of voters had cast their vote, Haridwar has recorded the highest 12.49% of polling so far followed by Tehri Garhwal with 10.23%, Almora 10.13%, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar 9.83 and Pauri garhwal with 9.46%, they said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was among the first to cast his vote.

Dhami along with his mother and wife Geeta arrived at Nagra Terai polling station in Khatima and stood in a queue to cast his vote.

Talking to reporters, the chief minister noted that there is great enthusiasm among people.

aharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cast his vote in Nagpur for the Lok Sabha elections on Friday.

The deputy CM arrived at the Dharampeth Hindi High School polling booth here along with his wife Amruta and mother Sarita Fadnavis shortly after 10 am.

Polling is being held in the Nagpur constituency, where Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari is pitted against Congress’ Vikas Thakre, in the first phase.

Speaking with the media after casting his vote, he said the festival of democracy has begun in the country and urged people to exercise their franchise.

“My mother, wife and I have cast our votes,” he said.

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit also cast his vote at the same polling booth and appealed to people to use the voting rights given to them by the Constitution.

Over 10% of voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency despite torrential rains, election officials said.

Polling began at 7 am in 2,637 polling stations across the constituency and is going on peacefully with no untoward incident reported, they said.

Voting will decide the fate of 12 candidates, including Union minister Jitendra Singh who is eyeing a third term after winning the seat for the BJP in 2014 and 2019.

This is the first major electoral battle after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

Prominent among others in the fray include Congress leader and two-time former Member of Parliament Choudhary Lal Singh and the DPAP's G M Saroori besides Six independents.

Jyoti Amge, officially the world's shortest woman, cast her vote in the Lok Sabha elections. The record-holder was seen voting in Nagpur.

Polling began across six constituencies in Madhya Pradesh on Friday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, with 14.12% of voters exercising their franchise till 9 am, an official said.

The polling began peacefully in all the six constituencies for the first phase, the state's Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan told PTI.

Till 9 am, a total of 14.12% of voters exercised their franchise across the six Lok Sabha seats, the official said.

The early voters include former chief minister Kamal Nath, his son Nakul Nath, who is contesting from the Chhindwara LS seat, and their spouses.

Accompanied by his friends dressed in traditional attires, a groom decked up in sherwani and colourful headgear was among the first to cast his vote at a polling booth in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur as the first phase of the Lok Sabha election began Friday.

Polling started at 7 am amid inclement weather conditions in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency spread over the five districts of Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar.

Kapil Gupta got married Thursday and exercised his franchise at a polling booth set up on the premises of the Jammu and Kashmir Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Backward Classes Development Corporation Limited in Udhampur town soon after returning home Friday morning.

"Voting is our right and must be done on priority," he said, requesting voters to vote in large numbers.

Another newly married couple, Sahil and Radhika, turned up in wedding costumes at a polling station set up in a school in Udhampur.

"We got married only yesterday (Thursday) and I told my husband that we should vote. My vote is not here but I accompanied him," the bride said.

"I will be visiting my parents later in the day in a nearby village to fulfil my democratic responsibility as well," she added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing his first public rally for the day, urged eligible voters to poll in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. 

"Today, the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2024  elections is taking place. This is a big day for the festival of democracy. I want to appeal to all the voters to use their rights and cast their votes," he said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh.

NCP leader Praful Patel along with his family members casts his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, at a polling booth in Gondia, Maharashtra.

As the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls began on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to cast their ballots carefully and asserted that a new era of economic empowerment and equal opportunities beckons them.

"The fight to protect our Constitution and Democracy begins today," he said in a post on 'X'.

"My dear citizens, from 21 States and UTs who are voting in the First Phase of the Lok Sabha elections, I request you to carefully cast your vote. A future where NYAY (justice) awaits you. A new era of Economic Empowerment and Equal Opportunities beckons you," the Congress chief said.

"I am sure you will vote for the 'jobs revolution' through YUVA NYAY, rather than a continuation of the past 10 years of record unemployment," Kharge said.

As Nagpur goes to vote today, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari says he is confident of winning from the Maharashtra seat.

Long queues were seen outside booths since the morning as polling was underway for five constituencies in Assam in the first phase on Friday.

Poling began at 7 am in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur and Kaziranga seats, and 86.5 lakh voters are eligible to vote.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal of the BJP and Congress's deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi were among those who cast their votes in the first hour.

There were apprehensions that the weather might play a spoilsport with the entire Upper Assam remaining cloudy, but gradually the sky cleared up.

"It is really a good sign that people are coming out in such a large number. People's spontaneous participation will strengthen democracy," Sonowal, the BJP candidate of Dibrugarh, said after casting his vote at a polling booth in Laxminath Bezbarua Bhawan in Chowkiding.

People are happy under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and that is why they are coming out in large numbers, he claimed.

Gogoi voted at a polling booth in Devi Charan Barua Higher Secondary School in Jorhat town.

Among the other prominent persons who cast their votes early were Sonowal's rival Lurinjyoti Gogoi in Tinsukia district, BJP's Sonitpur candidate Ranjit Dutta in Behali, Kaziranga's Congress contestant Roselina Tirkey in Sarupathar and BJP's Lakhimpur candidate Pradan Baruah in Dhemaji.

The Samajwadi Party has said that voting is progressing slowly at Kairana Nagar Islamia Inter College in the Kairana Lok Sabha constituency. The party further alleged that officials are "accelerate the pace of voting forcefully." SP urged the Election Commission to intervene.

The Samajwadi Party has alleged that an EVM in Shamli of Kairana Lok Sabha constituency is malfunctioning. The Akhilesh Yadav-led party has urged the Election Commission to take cognizance.

Former Tamil Nadu CM and candidate from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency, O Panneerselvam shows his inked finger after casting his vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Theni.

O. Panneerselvam is contesting as an Independent candidate backed by the BJP-led NDA. Jayaperumal from AIADMK, K Navaskani from Indian Union Muslim League and Chandraprabha from Naam Tamilar Katchi are the prominent candidates for this seat.

With phase 1 elections already underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold 3 public rallies in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah will continue his rally after filing his nomination from Gujarat's Gandhinagar.

"People will happily participate in this voting process... Congress should look at its condition, they are going to get fewer seats than before," Union Minister, ex-Assam CM and BJP candidate Sarbananda Sonowal said in his contituency Dibrugarh.

"I am running this election as a matter of principle...Their Intelligence, Tamil Nadu Police, DMK, AIADMK - what they are doing in politics, everybody is seeing. They are spending more than Rs 1000 Crores in Coimbatore. If they can bring one voter and make them stand in front of the media and say that some BJP guy tried to influence them, I will leave politics the same day...I am challenging the Dravidian party, you bring one voter and make them stand in front of the media."

Voting has been delayed by an hour in some constituencies of Tamil Nadu due to glitches in the electronic voting machines. News agency PTI reported that the issue was oberserved  near Tambaram, which coming under Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha segment.P

Former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath said that "full faith" in the people of Chhindwara, a constituency that has his son Nakul Nath listed on the ballot as the Congress candidate.

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma reached the polling station in Tura. "When I reached the polling station around 6:30 AM, there were around 200 people present at the polling station," he said.