New Delhi : With the voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 underway in 102 seats spread across 21 states and Union Territories on Friday, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge urged voters to cast their votes "carefully," stating that the "fight to protect our Constitution and democracy begins today."The voting began at 7 am.
"The fight to protect our Constitution and Democracy begins today. 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," he said in a post on X.
He emphasised that voters hold the power to decide India's destiny.
"When you push that button on the EVM, pause and reflect for a second -- Do you want our Institutions to be subverted through dictatorship, or do you want to protect DEMOCRACY? YOU are now the decider of India's destiny," he added in the post.
He also extended warm welcome to the new voters, saying, "I extend a warm welcome to all the first-time voters. Please come out and vote in large numbers." The world's largest democratic exercise kicked off in the country today, with the first phase of polling in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories.
This Lok Sabha election, to be conducted from April 19 to June 1, is set to be the second longest polling exercise in the country's electoral history after the first general election, which was held over five months between September 1951 and February 1952.
The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. Vote counting will be done on June 4.
Those voting in the first phase include seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
In the states of Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, voting will take place in all seven phases, while single-phase polling is being held today in Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Island.
Along with this, voters in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also voting for their assembly elections today.