Lok Sabha elections: PM Modi calls for record voter participation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged citizens to participate in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, aiming for a record voter turnout. The electoral process kicked off at 7:00am, with 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union territories going to polls in the first phase. "I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers," Modi said in a poston X.
Modi encourages young and first-time voters to participate
In a special appeal, Modi encouraged young and first-time voters to make their voices heard by voting in large numbers. "I particularly call upon the young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters!" he said. His message was disseminated in six languages - English, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Assamese - highlighting the significance of each vote.
Read PM Modi's post here
First phase of voting spans across 21 states
Here's the state-wise complete list of constituencies where polling is taking place on Friday. Assam (5 seats), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Bihar (4), Chhattisgarh (1), Madhya Pradesh (6), Maharashtra (5), Manipur (2), Meghalaya (2) Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (1), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (1), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (3), Andaman & Nicobar (1), Jammu & Kashmir (1), Lakshadweep (1), Puducherry (1).
Assembly elections coincide with Lok Sabha polls
Alongside the Lok Sabha elections, assembly elections are also taking place in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The first phase of the Lok Sabha polls has over 16.63 crore eligible voters, including 35.67lakh first-time voters, 3.51 crore young voters in the age group of 20-29, and 11,371 from the third gender. This year's election is set to be one of the longest polling exercises in India's electoral history.