Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 1 Polling: Live Updates

Voting for the 1st Phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 started at 7 AM in 102 constituencies across the country. Eager voters standing in long queues at their voting stations could be spoted right from the time of openings of the gates.

14 Lok Sabha Constituencies of North East India are participating in polls today. 1st phase for polling is being conducted in Jorhat, Sonitpur, Kaziranga, Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh constituencies of Assam. Arunachal Pradesh East and Arunachal Pradesh West, Shillong and Tura in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Mizoram, Inner Manipur and Tripura West are also seeing voting today.

Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal cast his vote early in the morning. He is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Dibrugarh Constituency of Assam.

Sarbanada Sonowal faces Lurinjyoti Gogoi from Assam Jatiya Parishad as the key competition. The Dibrugarh constituency is expected to see the competition between the BJP and the regional party AJP.

Lurinjyoti Gogoi also cast his vote in Dibrugarh. He called on all the eligible voters of the state to exercise their voting rights.

Agatha K Sangma, incumbent Member of Lok Sabha from the Tura Lok Sabha Constituency of Meghalaya also cast her vote early today. She was spoted standing in line with other voters for her turn to the EVM.

"Currently in line at the polling station, eagerly awaiting my turn to cast my vote for a better tomorrow! Urging every citizen to queue up at the polling station, ready to exercise their right to vote," she shared over social media site X.

Along with the rest of the 100 constituencies, Shillong and Tura constituencies of the North East Indian state of Meghalaya also see voting today. Many voting stations across the state saw long lines of voters at the time of opening.

Union Minister of Earth Sciences and Food Processing Industries Kiren Rijiju went to his native village to cast his vote for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

He was seen at his native village Nafra in the Bichom District of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. He is the BJP candidate from the Arunachal Prasesh West Constituency of the state. Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki from the INC is competing against Kiren Rijiju for this seat.

Although he arrived at his voting station at 6:30 AM, half an hour before the actual starting of the voting, Conrad Sangma found around 200 people waiting ahead of him for their turns. Sharing the development, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya expressed his happiness on this development and said that voters coming out in such good numbers at the early hour is a very good sign.

Conrad Sangma voted at the Walbakgre polling station in the Tura constituency of Meghalaya today. Two constituencies of Meghalaya, namely Shillong and Tura see voting in the 1st Phase of poling of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Its not just the general public of the country that are voting in the general elections. Popular film stars including Rajinikanth, Ajith Kumar and Dhanush were among the popular South Indian actors were spotted voting today. Isha Foundation famed Sadhguru also posed with his ink stained finger. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stallin were also among those who exercised their power to vote in the 1st Phase.

Over 16.5 Cr Indians are expected to exercise their voting rights today. Arround 18 Lakh polling officials are working in 1.87 poling stations across the country for the 1st Phase of polling for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

One of the key Indian National Congress players from the Northeasten region of the country, Gaurav Gogoi also cast his votes at his native place today. Gaurav Gogoi is contesting from the Jorhat Lok Sabha Constituency of the state.

The deputy leader of the opposition, faces Topon Kumar Gogoi of Bharatiya Janata Party as his main competitor. He too called on the public of the state to come out in large numbers and exercise their rights.

The five constituencies in the state of Assam has registered a turnout of 27.22% voters by 11 AM today. This number has been reached in the first four hours of voting as the polling stations were opened for voters at 7 AM.

Earlier today, authorities reported 11.15 % voter turnout in the first two hours, that is at 9 AM today. With almost six hours of voting left after the update at 11 AM, it remains to see if the voting percentage matches the previous numbers or overtakes the same. Several key political leaders including the contestants have already cast their votes.

Biplab Kumar Deb, the former Chief Minister of Tripura is contesting on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from the Tripura West constituency of Tripura. He is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier today he cast his vote after seeking blessings from his mother at her residence. He voted at the Booth Number 34 in his native village, Udaipur, Gomti. He had also visited the Kasbeswari Kali Mata Temple and prayed for the well-being of everyone.

An incident of firing was reported from a polling station in Manipur. The incident reportedly took place in a polling station located in the Thamanpokpi locality. This polling station comes under the Moirang Assembly Segment of the Inner Manipur Constituency of the state of Manipur. A video showing people at the polling station fleeing after gunshots was seen. More details are awaited regarding the incident.

An on duty security personnel had died in the state of Mizoram. The incident took place in Vangchhia of the state. Identified as 28-year-old Lalrinpuia, he belonged to the Second Battalion of the Indian Reserve Battalion.

Lalrinpuia, a resident of Kawlkulh village in Khawzawl district was stationed at the Vangchhia Primary School for election duties. The fellow officials came to know about the incident when he failed to wake up today morning at around 5 AM. An investigation has been initiated into the matter.

The Election Commission of India has taken special care to ensure that every citizen of the country gets the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. Keeping on those lines, they have made special arrangements for the differently abled citizens as well as the senior citizens of the country.

As a part of this initiative, a large number of the polling stations have been made to be easily accessible by people who need the same by adding ramps, etc. Also these citizens have been given a priority in terms of voting to ensure that they can complete the process at the minimum possible time.

The voter turnout has been increasing steadily since morning across almost all states where the 1st Phase of Polling for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is now underway. At 1 PM, 45.12% of eligible voters of Assam have already cast their votes.

At the same time, the voters turnout for Arunachal Pradesh is 36.16%, Manipur - 46.92%, Meghalaya - 48.91%, Mizoram 37.85%, Nagaland - 40.84%, Sikkim - 36.82% and Tripura - 53.04%.

Voting started at 7 AM, so this numbers reveal the voting percentage in six hours. Voting continues till 5 PM today.

In a bid to promote inclusivity of all sections of the citizens in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, authorities have set up creche facilities at polling stations. This facility has been introduced in multiple polling stations in Meghalaya.

The implementation of creche facility is a step towards encouraging mothers, specially those with very young children to exercise their right to vote. This facility has been widely commended by the public. The Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya informed that 31/52 Kynshi Bangla Model Polling Station and the Model Polling Station in 30 Mairang Assembly Segment have this facility.

Following the developments in the region, members of the Kuki-Zo community abstrained from exercising their right to vote in the ongoing 1st Phase of Polling for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. As as result several polling stations in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur recieved no turnout of voters.

This development comes after the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills authority for the Kuki community urgered all Kuki residents in Sadar Hills to abstain from voting. This region has more than 1 lakh registered voters and comes under the Manipur Outer Lok Sabha Constituency.

With the closing time of polling for the 1st Phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 a little more than an hour away, the authorities have announced the latest voter turnout in the state. The officials have revealed that till 3 PM on April 19, 2024, a 60.70% of voters have exercised their rights to vote. Based on reports from th polling stations, the turnout is expected to increase further in the last hour of voting.

It must be noted that five Lok Sabha Constituencies of the state of Assam, out of a total of 14, has seen voting in the 1st Phase of Polling today.

At 3 PM on Friday, 60.70% of eligible voters of Assam have already cast their votes as a part of the 1st Phase of Polling of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

At the same time, the voters turnout for Arunachal Pradesh is 55.10%, Manipur - 63%, Meghalaya - 62%, Mizoram 49.80%, Nagaland - 51.70%, Sikkim - 52.70% and Tripura - 68.40%.

Voting continues till 5 PM today.

As the voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Assam is nearing its conclusion, the voter turnout in the state till 5 PM has been revealed.

Assam has recorded an impressive figure of 70.77% till 5 pm. It has been reported that the turnout is expected to increase further as the voting is still underway in some polling stations.

Meanwhile, the voter turnout in Arunachal Pradesh is clocked at 63.27%, 67.66% in Manipur, 69.91% in Meghalaya, 52.73% in Mizoram, 55.79% in Nagaland, 68.06% in Sikkim and 76.10% in Tripura, till 5 PM.

A beautifully decorated polling station located in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has grabbed a lot of eyeballs for its aesthetic looks.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Andaman and Nicobar Islands took to the micro-blogging site X (formerly known as Twitter) to share the mesmerizing photos of the polling station which impressed citizens from across the country.

"From Herminder Bay, voices resonate in the elections as Voters play their pivotal role in shaping the nation's destiny," read the post.

As the voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections is nearing its completion, the voter turnout in the state of West Bengal has been revealed.

West Bengal has registered an impressive 77.57% voter turnout, the highest in the country till 5 pm.

Puducherry follows suit with 72.84% and it is followed by Jammu and Kashmir at 65.08%.

As of 5 pm, the voter turnout in Chattisgarh is 63.41%, 46.32% in Bihar, 63.25% in Madhya Pradesh, 54.85% in Maharashtra, 62.02% in Tamil Nadu, 53.56% in Uttar Pradesh, 57.54% in Uttarakhand, 50.27% in Rajasthan, 59.02% in Lakshwadeep and 56.87% in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Amidst the voting for the Lok Sabha elections in Meghalaya, the state witnessed the successful implementation of the 'Green Election' initiative that aims to take up tree plantations drives in all the Polling stations across the state.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya expressed the need to promote this noble initiative intended towards preserving our environment.

The election official informed that under this initiative, two saplings will be given to the first Male and Female voters to plant it at the location of the Polling Station.

Informing that most of the Polling Stations are educational institutions, the CEO requested the Education department to convey the message to the institutions to identify a space for planting the saplings and to nurture it.

As part of the Election Commission of India's efforts to take the Lok Sabha elections to every nook and corner of the country, the polls were conducted in Malogam Polling Station located in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Malogam Polling Station entertained only one voter identified as 44-year-old Sokhela Tayang.

This demonstrates the polling body's iron-clad commitment to not deprive any citizen of their fundamental voting right.