Scenes from across the country as India heads to polls.
Credit: PTI Photos
Tamil Nadu all set to vote for LS polls, that saw BJP straining every nerve
Tamil Nadu is all set to vote on April 19 for the Lok Sabha polls, that was marked by fierce campaigns and acrimonious debates, and a never seen before kind of spirited fight put up by the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to gain a foothold in the Dravidian land in 2024 was a striking feature.
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Eight seats in western UP to go to polls today
The seats going to polls on Friday are Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina (reserved for Scheduled Castes), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit.
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543 seats, 3,000 candidates, a billion hopes: India heads to polls
The festival of democracy begins in India from April 19, as the nation goes to polls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
5 Lok Sabha seats of Uttarakhand to undergo polls in 1st phase on Friday
Polling for the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand will be held on Friday with the BJP aiming to retain the seats for a third time and the Congress looking to regain lost ground in the state.
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Track our live coverage of the Assembly elections here
How AI tools could change India’s elections
For a glimpse of where artificial intelligence is headed in election campaigns, look to India, the world’s largest democracy, as it starts heading to the polls Friday.
An AI-generated version of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that has been shared on WhatsApp shows the possibilities for hyperpersonalized outreach in a country with nearly 1 billion voters. In the video — a demo clip whose source is unclear — Modi’s avatar addresses a series of voters directly, by name.
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How NDA and opposition performed in 2019
When voters queue up to vote in 102 Lok Sabha constituencies in the first phase of elections today, the challenge before both the ruling BJP and the Opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc is to improve their performance five years ago when they shared the spoils.
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Polling will begin shortly in all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu
Maharashtra: Preparations for voting underway at polling booth number 56 Dhantoli in Nagpur
Polling will begin at 7:00 am today at 5 constituencies in Maharashtra in the first phase of the 2024 general elections.
Bihar: Polling will begin at 7:00 am in 4 constituencies - Aurangabad, Gaya, Jamuli and Nawada
West Bengal: 3 constituencies - Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri set to vote today
Polling will begin at 7:00 am in West Bengal's 3 constituencies Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.
Manipur: All preparations in place as the country goes to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections today.
Uttarakhand's 5 constituencies - Tehri Garhwal, Garhwal, Almora, Nainital and Haridwar - in the first phase of the 2024 general elections
Assam: 5 constituencies - Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaziranga, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur are going to polls today
CEC Rajiv Kumar on internally displaced voters in Manipur
"The phase 1 is the election. Today, they will vote in Manipur. We have made special scheme that in the camps, we will make all facilitation to vote. There are more than 18,000 who have already registered with us for voting from the camps. Our teams will take their vote wherever they are. Our attempt was and is that nobody is disenfranchised because of this...I am sure people will vote and establish a vote which gives the answers."
Arunachal Pradesh: Polling preparations underway at a polling booth in Tawang
CEC Rajiv Kumar urges women, PwDs, senior citizens, other sections to vote in maximum number
Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections begins.
Polling being held in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories.
Voting is our duty. There should be 100 per cent polling. I have cast my vote: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat tells ANI after casting his vote in the first phase of the LS polls 2024.
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma stands in queue to cast his vote in the first phase of the LS polls 2024
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma.
Credit: NPP, Meghalaya
While standing in queue, Sangma told ANI, "...When I reached the polling station around 6:30 AM, there were around 200 people present at the polling station, which is a good message that people are participating in the voting process enthusiastically...A very good voter turnout can be seen in this election..."
Urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers: PM Modi
The prime minister has tweeted out messages to urge people to come out in record numbers and cast their votes as the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls begin. Modi tweeted out his messagedCheck out his message right here:
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram casts his vote in Tamil Nadu
After 2014, voters come out of their houses to cast votes on their own. Thanks to the Election Commission as well for creating awareness. There is excitement and faith among people towards the government, voting, and ‘Vikaas’: Controversial BJP MLA from Rajasthan, Balmukund Acharya
Right after getting elected, Acharya started a drive to prevent non-vegetarian food items being openly sold in his constituency.
AIADMK general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami casts his vote in Tamil Nadu
Palaniswami stands in line with other voters.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Palaniswami casts his vote.
Credit: Special arrangement
DMK & AIADMK candidates from Coimbatore Ganapathi P Rajkumar and Singai G Ramachandran cast their vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024
Ganapathi P Rajkumar
Singai G Ramachandran
Polling underway for lone Nagaland LS seat
Polling is underway for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland on Friday, officials said.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm.
Over 13.25 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the electoral fate of three candidates in the fray.
Of the total 2,342 polling booths, 588 polling stations have been marked as critical and vulnerable, officials said.
Congress nominee S Supongmeren Jamir, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Chumben Murry and Independent Hayithung Tungoe Lotha are contesting the elections. The ENPO, which has asked people not to vote in the polls to press for its demand for a separate state, imposed an indefinite total shutdown in the eastern part of the state since 6 pm on Thursday.
-PTI
A woman clad in a burqa votes at a polling station during the first phase of the general election in Kairana, in Uttar Pradesh, India, April 19, 2024.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Manipur Congress leader Bupenda Meitei cast his vote in Imphal
Bupenda Meitei
Credit: Bupenda Meitei
TN BJP President K Annamalai casts his vote
The Thalaivar exercises his franchise
Cast your votes to save democracy and Indian culture, says Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi
Puducherry CM N Rangaswamy arrives in polling booth on bike; casts vote
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reaches a polling station in Khatima to cast his vote
Former TN CM O Panneerselvam casts his vote at a polling booth in Theni
Former Tamil Nadu CM and candidate from Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency, O Panneerselvam reached the polling station in Theni where he cast his vote.
BJP candidate from Haridwar Trivendra Singh Rawat cast his vote on Friday
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Haridwar, Trivendra Singh Rawat cast his vote along with his family at a polling booth in Dehradun on Friday morning.
Newly married couple exercise their franchise in wedding attire at Pauri Garhwal
Jyoti Amge, the world's shortest woman, casts her vote in Nagpur, Maharashtra
We don't care who wins the election: Kuki leader
Manipur: "We don't care who wins the election," as no elected politicians have helped during "these hard, dark times, there's no more feeling of being represented by Ngas and Meitei, Kuki leader told DH.
Check our exclusive interview with Sominthang Doungel right here!
'Sanitary pads as Return gifts' were distributed to all our women voters at the women managed polling stations at 5-DFO ,Social Forestry Building and 45- KV Building, NERIST. Papum Pare district, Arunachal Pradesh
Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK supremo M K Stalin casts his vote
Strengthen democracy by applying balm of vote to wounds on soul of nation in last decade, says Rahul Gandhi
BJP is going to make history in the state. We will also win both Lok Sabha seats: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu
"Today is the mega festival of democracy and voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections is underway. I expect that the number of voters this year will surpass the number of voters in 2019. BJP is going to make history in the state. We will also win both Lok Sabha seats. In the previous election, BJP got 41 seats and we hope that this time BJP will get 60 out of 60 seats..." the AP CM told ANI.
Estimated voter turnout till 9 am in Tamil Nadu
Source: Election Commission
Estimated voter turnout till 9 am across the country
Source: Election Commission
Reports of stone pelting coming from WB's Coochbehar, which is witnessing the first phase of the general elections today
Reports of armed miscreants, suspected to be members of Arambai Tenggol, disrupting polling in some places in Manipur's Imphal Valley
-DHNS
Tripura CM Manik Saha casts his vote
"Feels great after voting. Everyone should vote and a government which thinks about development should come to power. People are coming to vote and elections should be conducted peacefully..." Saha told ANI after exercising his franchise.
101 per cent confident of winning with huge margin: Union minister and BJP candidate from Nagpur Nitin Gadkari
"We are celebrating the festival of democracy today. Everyone should vote, this is our fundamental right as well as duty. You can vote for anyone but casting your vote is important," he further told news agency ANI.
Vacant polling stations in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district in Manipur where Kuki groups issued a poll boycott
Manipur CM N Biren Singh and his wife after casting their votes in Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat
Photo credit: Manipur CM office
Photo credit: Manipur CM office
EC without any hearing got our post deleted from X which disclosed donations received by Modi and BJP, says AAP
Newly married couple heads straight to polling booth in wedding attire
Voting in Bastar
"Three-layer cordon security arrangements have been made in the area, additional forces have also been deployed. Besides this, in border areas, special forces of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha are also cooperating with us in maintaining security...": Bastar IG P Sundarraj tells ANI.
TMC blames BJP for violence in Bengal's Coochbehar
"Yesterday's brutal attack on our party workers by BJP goons has been followed by another ambush today. BJP leaders Ratan Burman, Ajeet Mahanto and Hiren Mahanto pelted crude country-made bombs in booth number 232 and 231 of Bhetaguri-I, Dinhata, severely injuring our block president Anant Kumar Barman," the Mamata Banerjee-led party alleged in a post on X.
Here's a selection of the best photos from across the country as India hits the ballot in the first phase of the biggest election on the planet
A voter shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Nagpur, Friday, April 19, 2024
World's shortest woman Jyoti Amge at a polling station to cast her vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Nagpur, Friday.
Voters show their identification cards as they wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Gaya district, Friday, April 19, 2024.
A voter gives her thumb impression before casting her vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Gaya, Friday, April 19, 2024.
Veteran actor Rajinikanth shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, at a polling station in Chennai, Friday, April 19, 2024.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma waits in a queue to cast his vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in West Garo Hills district, Friday, April 19, 2024.
Yogo Adityanath addresses a poll rally in UP in the presence of PM Narendra Modi
"Under the leadership of PM Modi, we have been provided with a safe environment of security. The transformation we are witnessing in the nation is wonderful and unprecedented...There is only one voice that can be heard from across the nation and it is 'phir ek baar Modi sarkar aur abki baar 400 paar...", the UP CM said
Strike rate of Congress will be better in places where the BJP is directly fighting us: Surjewala
Security forces fired gunshots to disperse miscreants who tried to disrupt polling
-DHNS
Bengal sees highest voter turnout by 11 am, Lakshadweep lowest
Source: ECI
BJP. TMC threatening voters, says Coochbehar's Congress candidate Piya Roy Chowdhury
Watch: Amit Shah files nomination papers from Gandhinagar
"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..." Shah told mediapersons. (ANI)
Bengal Raj Bhavan forwarding election complaints received in 'Peace Room' to EC
Kolkata, Apr 19 (PTI) West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose is keeping a close watch on the proceedings of the first phase polling in three Lok Sabha constituencies in the state on Friday from 'Peace Room' at the Raj Bhavan here, an official said.
Bose, who offered his prayers at the Kalighat Temple this morning for free and peaceful polling in the three constituencies, started 'monitoring' the situation there from the 'Peace Room', the official said.
The Raj Bhavan was instantly forwarding the complaints received at the 'Peace Room' to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for them to take necessary action, he said.
"I will fulfil my duties as the Governor. The responsibility of holding a free and fair election is that of the ECI," Bose told reporters.
(PTI)
Polling booths in eastern Nagaland wear deserted look amid shutdown call
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.
(PTI)
Hypocrisy of Congress, CPM, CPI evident in Wayanad, says J P Nadda in Kerala roadshow
In his Kerala roadshow, BJP President J P Nadda said that people came out in huge numbers and were very 'enthusiastic'.
"The hypocrisy of all three - Rahul Gandhi, or Indian National Congress, CPM and CPI - is evident. Here, D Raja's wife is contesting against Rahul Gandhi, and in Delhi, D Raja sits in between Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. They have become ideologically bankrupt", he said.
D Raja ki wife ke saath Delhi mei baithte hain Rahul aur Sonia ji. Wahan dosti yahan kushti, yeh kya hai? They have become ideologically bankrupt.J P Nadda
Estimated voter turnout as of 1 pm
ATVoters use ferry services in Assam reach polling booths
Several voters are using ferry services from Majuli Island to Jorhat in order to exercise their right to vote.
Voters across India 'embrace festive spirit' of elections, says ECI
"Across the vast expanse of India, the summer sun was outshone by the colour and festivities in Polling Stations, as the largest democracy in the world goes to polls today. People were undeterred by rains in certain parts like Uddhampur, J&K and waited in long queues for voting. 102 Parliamentary Constituencies and 92 Assembly Constituencies in the North-Eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are heading to polls simultaneously today. As of 1 PM substantial voter turnout reported in many States/UTs," the ECI said in a press release.
Polling booths in eastern Nagaland wear deserted look amid shutdown call
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.
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.
There was no voter turnout till 11am. Polling comes to an end at 4pm.
--With PTI inputs
Polling halted at 5 Manipur booths after 'ruckus'
Polling has been stopped in of 5 booths -- 2 in East Imphal and 3 in West Imphal -- after a ruckus broke out when people alleged irregularities: Polling officer
Newly-wed bride casts her vote right after wedding in Shahdol
As soon as the marriage rituals were completed this morning, the newly married Kavita Sahu reached booth number 270 to cast her vote inin village Bamhori of Budhar tehsil in Madhya Pradesh's Shadol
Senior NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal opts out of poll race
Veteran OBC leader Chhagan Bhujbal of Ajit Pawar-led NCP, who was eyeing a ticket as Mahayuti candidate, withdraws himself from the race for the Nashik seat.
Sitting Shiv Sena MP Hemant Godse and Bhujbal were in the race to contest.
"I thank PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for having considered my name during discussion," Bhujbal said.
Watch | Ex-MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan files nomination papers from Vidisha
Phase 1 in pictures | India votes
An elderly voter shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Kaliabor, Friday.
Voters show their identification cards as they wait in a queue at a polling station to cast their votes for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Nagpur, Friday,
A polling official marks a voter's finger with indelible ink as she arrives to cast her vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Kohima, Nagaland, Friday.
Sadhus' show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Haridwar, Friday.
Voters wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Udhampur district, Friday
A newly-wedded couple after casting their vote for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, at Barwada village in Jaipur, Friday.
Great Andamanese Tribe from Strait Island casts their franchise
Here is the voter turnout from 5 Lok Sabha constituencies of Madhya Pradesh
Here is the voter turnout from 5 Lok Sabha constituencies of Madhya Pradesh
62.57 per cent voting till 3 am in Chhindwara
48.05 per cent voting till 3 am in Jabalpur
63.69 per cent voting till 3 am in Balaghat
52.28 per cent voting till 3 am in Mandla
48.64 per cent voting till 3 am in Shahdol
40.60 per cent voting till 3 am in Sidhi
Voter turnout at 49.78% till 3 pm
58.14% voter turnout in Chhattisgarh's Bastar constituency by 3 pm
The Bastar constituency witnessed a voter turnout of 58.14 per cent by 3 pm, an official from the Chief Electoral Officer's office said.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi files nomination for Lok Sabha elections from Hyderabad constituency
Here is the voter turnout from 5 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra till 3pm
Here is the voter turnout from 5 Lok Sabha constituencies of Madhya Pradesh
45.88 per cent voting till 3 am in Bhandara Gondiya
43.46 per cent voting till 3 am in Chandrapur
55.79 per cent voting till 3 am in Gadchiroli-Chimur
38.43 per cent voting till 3 am in Nagpur
40.10 per cent voting till 3 am in Ramtek
Here is the voter turnout from 3 Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal till 3 pm
Here is the voter turnout from 3 Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal
66.23 per cent voting till 3 am in Alipurduars
65.54 per cent voting till 3 am in Coochbehar
67.28 per cent voting till 3 am in Jalpaiguri
68.35% voter turnout in Tripura West constituency by 3 pm
51.41% voter turnout recorded in Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha elections till 3pm
TVK chief & actor Vijay arrives to cast vote in Chennai
Here is the voter turnout from 12 Lok Sabha constituencies of Rajasthan till 3pm
Here is the voter turnout from 12 Lok Sabha constituencies of Rajasthan
43.39 per cent voting till 3 am in Alwar
37.28 per cent voting till 3 am in Bharatpur
40.80 per cent voting till 3 am in Bikaner
46.40 per cent voting till 3 am in Churu
38.36 per cent voting till 3 am in Dausa
50.14 per cent voting till 3 am in Ganganagar
49.48 per cent voting till 3 am in Jaipur
39.90 per cent voting till 3 am in Jaipur Rural
36.12 per cent voting till 3 am in Jhunjhunu
33.86 per cent voting till 3 am in Karauli-Dholpur
41.56 per cent voting till 3 am in Nagaur
39.25 per cent voting till 3 am in Sikar
Voting concludes in Manipur's Imphal East LS constitiency
Voting concludes in Imphal East for Lok Sabha elections. The EVMs, and VVPATs machines are being sealed.
"Our polling has concluded, as soon as it was 4 pm we closed the gates...We called the agents and then in front of them we sealed all the data and machines...After all this is completed we will submit it to the DC office...," polling officer said.
The timing for casting vote in Manipur was from 7 am to 4 pm.
59.7% voter turnout recorded till 5 PM
Polling concludes at Uttarakhand
Voting concludes in Uttarakhand for Lok Sabha elections.
"In Uttarakhand, we concluded the polling peacefully... Today, the polling percentage is approximately 55-56%... The plain area had hot weather today, so, we observed a decrease in voters at that time," Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer BVRC Purshottam said.