Category: News

Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday released the party’s manifesto “Apna Vote, Apno Kay Liye” for the Lok Sabha elections and vowed to empower women and youth.

After releasing the party’s manifesto, Mehbooba Mufti said that they are not a big party so they released a small manifesto to cater to the needs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The biggest responsibility as of now is to go to Parliament and to give a voice to the pain of the people of the state. Land-related laws that were under the state list were changed, which led to our resources, be it electricity, water, or lithium, being gifted to outsiders. Contracts for the developmental work are being given to outsiders,” Mufti said.

She further alleged that instead of providing jobs, people are being removed from their jobs.

“For the last 5 years, many youths have been in jail without any evidence and no one is talking about it. Horticulture has been negatively affected. Traders are being raided through ED, CBI, I-T,” she added.

The party vowed to improve road connectivity and said that every year, as winter approaches, large parts of J-K find themselves isolated due to severed connectivity.

“There is an urgent need for the construction of the Mughal road tunnel, the Saadhna tunnel and the Rajdhaani tunnel to enhance regional connectivity. This will be pursued with the central government,” the PDP manifesto read.

The party said that part of the MPLAD fund will go towards strengthening these skill centres by providing tailoring machines, laptops and digital devices for women.

“Every woman dreams of being self sufficient and able enough to stand on her own feet. This is where skill centres play a crucial role. Even though there are many across J-K most lack adequate facilities. A part of my MPLAD fund will go towards strengthening these skill centres by providing tailoring machines, laptops and digital devices. Our school going girls face inconvenience on a daily basis owing to the lack of toilets in schools. Funds will be devoted to this purpose so that their education doesn’t suffer. Unlike men, women are confined to the four walls of their homes. I intend to create parks for them wherever space is available,” it added.

The pervasive challenge of lack of access to clean drinking water persists, particularly in remote and far-flung regions, it stated.

“It is exacerbated by the disproportionate burden placed upon women, who often bear the responsibility of fetching water. MPLAD funds will be dedicated to establishing tube-wells to address this pressing problem,” it said.

The party promises to ensure that recreational facilities like playgrounds are built and sports equipment, along with laptops and digital devices, is distributed to the youth at educational institutions and skill centres.

“After the unilateral and illegal revocation of J-Ks special status, its youth have been the first and worst sufferers of a slew of GOI’s unilateral and draconian policies and decisions. Through my MPLAD fund. I will ensure we build recreational facilities like playgrounds and distribute sports equipment, along with laptops and digital devices, at educational institutions and skill centres,” the party said.

The party would allocate funds towards purchasing laptops and computers to strengthen the infrastructure in these schools.

“Government schools often lack digital devices, which are crucial for learning in today’s virtual world. Funds will be allocated towards purchasing laptops and computers to strengthen the infrastructure in these schools. Laptops and digital devices for government and government aided educational institutions,” the party said.

“Often, families encounter challenges in securing appropriate venues for hosting marriage ceremonies and other significant functions. The MPLAD fund will be utilised for the establishment of multiple marriage halls, thus providing affordable spaces for such gatherings,” it added.

The PDP said that they would assertively seek the return of J-Ks power projects and advocate for free electricity or purchasing it at subsided rates.

“We will assertively seek the return of J-Ks power projects and advocate for free electricity or purchasing it at subsided rates. Projects for lighting public streets and places – Large parts of J&K remain engulfed in darkness. Funds will be directed towards installing street lights,” it said.

“We are committed to implementing comprehensive waste management and collection services. The region currently grapples with significant challenges pertaining to waste disposal. Through

strategic initiatives and coordinated efforts we aim to address these pressing issues and establish effective waste management systems to ensure environmental sustainability and public health,” the party said.

Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am.

Udhampur encompasses an expansive area of 16,707 square kilometers. It consists of 18 assembly segments spanning five districts — Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua.

The constituency, which was reshaped with three assembly constituencies of Reasi district carved out on the recommendations of the delimitation commission in 2022, had recorded 70.2 per cent polling in Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

The BJP has given a fresh ticket to sitting Udhampur MP and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who has been representing the constituency in the Lok Sabha since 2014 when he defeated then-Congress leader and former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

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

In the 2019 elections, the BJP won three seats while the National Conference won the remaining three. (ANI)

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West Bengal is leading the voter turnout charts after it recorded a 77.57 voting percentage in the state till 5 pm as per the data released by the Election Commission of India.

According to Election Commission data at 5 pm, Tripura recorded a 76.10 poll percentage. It was 63.92 per cent for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam (70.77 per cent), Chhattisgarh (63.41 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (65.08 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (63.25 per cent) Manipur (68.58 per cent), Meghalaya (69.91 per cent), Mizoram (52.91 per cent), Nagaland (55.97 per cent), Puducherry (72.84 per cent), Sikkim (68.06 per cent).

While Uttar Pradesh recorded 57.54 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm.

In Tamil Nadu, where all 39 Lok Sabha seats are going to the polls, the voting percentage was 62.08 per cent till 5 pm. In Uttarakhand, where polling is being held on all five parliamentary seats, the voting percentage was 53.56 per cent.

The polling percentage was relatively low till 5 pm in Bihar (46.32 per cent), Andaman and Nicobar islands recorded (56.87 per cent), Lakshadweep (59.02 per cent), Maharashtra (54.85 per cent), Rajasthan (50.27 per cent).

According to Election Commission data at 5 pm, it was 63.92 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh and 68.06 per cent in Sikkim.

Voting is being held in 102 seats in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election.

Voting for India’s parliamentary election, the largest democratic exercise in the world, began at 7 am with the Election Commission urging people to exercise their franchise in maximum numbers.

Of the 102 seats going to the polls on Friday, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 43 seats and parties in the INDIA bloc 48 seats in the 2019 election. While the BJP-led NDA is seeking its third consecutive term in office under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the INDIA bloc is hoping to oust it from power.

Polling is being held in 21 states and union territories in the first phase. These are – Arunachal Pradesh (two seats), Assam (five), Bihar (four), Chhattisgarh (one), Madhya Pradesh (six), Maharashtra (five), Manipur (two), Meghalaya (two), Mizoram (one), Nagaland (one), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (one), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (one), Uttar Pradesh (eight), Uttarakhand (five), West Bengal (three), Andaman and Nicobar (one), Jammu and Kashmir (one), Lakshadweep (one) and Puducherry (one).

Polling will be completed in a single phase today in Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, voting will take place across all seven phases starting April 19.

The poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission on March 16. Bypolls to 26 assembly constituencies will also be held alongside the Lok Sabha and four state assembly polls.

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The results will be announced on June 4. (ANI)

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The Supreme Court on Friday directed the competent authorities to decide within three days the applications filed seeking permission for conducting ‘yatras’ or public meetings aimed at educating people on elections.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, in its interim order, said such applications made to the competent authority should be decided within three days from the date of making the application.

The apex court has posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

The apex court was hearing a petition seeking to quash prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC issued solely on the grounds of impending elections.

The plea filed by social workers Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey sought direction to restrain the indiscriminate practice of magistrates and State governments to pass “blanket orders” under section 144 of the CrPC to prohibit meetings, gatherings, processions or ‘dharnas’ ahead of every Lok Sabha or Assembly election and until the declaration of results.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) deals with the power to issue orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger.

“These blanket prohibitory orders directly prevent civil society and general public from freely discussing, participating, organising, or mobilising on issues affecting them ahead of elections,” the petition stated.

During the hearing, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, told the bench that in the last six months, blanket orders under section 144 of CrPC have been issued for the whole duration of elections, from the time of the election announcement by the Election Commission until the end of elections.

Such orders prohibit all kinds of assemblies, meetings and demonstrations during the duration of elections, Bhushan added.

The bench expressed surprise over blanket orders being issued to prohibit any assembly during the polls and asked, “How can such orders be passed.”

Bhushan said the petitioners had applied for permission to conduct a ‘yatra’ to educate voters about their democratic rights during last year’s Assembly election, but permission was not granted. He further said that the authorities must decide on such applications within a stipulated time.

“The conduct of elections, being the ostensible reason for invoking Section 144 – is neither a valid ground recognised under Section 144, nor an emergent situation to justify the imposition of sweeping prohibitory orders. Section 144 orders–of the kind impugned herein–have been passed mechanically, without any material or exigency to justify prohibition on the general public, and amount to an illegal interference with the right to vote,” the petition stated.

The petitioners said that these prohibitions apply to all persons, including those who do not belong to a political party or candidate, irrespective of the agenda or purpose, and are held at any place within the municipal limits, including community grounds and halls.

“Thus, the scope of prohibitions is wide and sweeping, and it potentially hinders civil society from mobilising and creating awareness amongst the voters in a time-bound manner, which will in turn help voters exercise their right to vote in its truest form,” added the plea.

The petitioners contend that these blanket orders under Section 144, issued solely on the ground of the impending general elections, are “manifestly illegal and unconstitutional.” (ANI)

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After superstar Aamir Khan flagged a deepfake video of himself, a purported election pitch for a certain political party; actor Ranveer Singh has become the latest victim of the menace sweeping the industry.

A video of the actor of ‘Padmaavat’ fame recently surfaced online in which he is purportedly heard voicing his political views.

However, it now turns out that the video was made using an artificial intelligence voice clone of the actor.

While the video, from the actor’s recent visit to Varanasi, appears genuine, the audio is of a AI-enabled voice clone of Ranveer.

The actor, married to Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone, recently turned showstopper along with another prominent industry face, Kriti Sanon, at an open-air fashion show by the Ganges in Varanasi. The show was organised by top couturier Manish Malhotra.

During his visit to the ancient city, which happens to be one of the world’s oldest pilgrimage sites, Ranveer spoke highly of the changes that have come about in terms of the public infrastructure overhaul while also sharing his ‘divine’ experience of the city.

Taking to his Instagram Story on Friday, Ranveer dropped a post in which he wrote, “
Deepfake se bacho doston
(Friends, beware of deepfakes).”

While the post had nothing on the clip doing the rounds of social media currently, it was evidently in response to his deepfake video.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ranveer will be seen reprising his role of Simmba in Rohit Shetty’s cop drama ‘Singham Again’, which also stars Deepika Padukone, actors Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Ranveer will also headline Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Don 3’. Don 3′ will arrive in 2025.

While announcing the film, Farhan requested the audience to give the same love to Ranveer as they showered on previous Don installments.

“In 1978, a character created by Salim-Javed and portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan with effortless elan, captured the imagination of theatregoers across the country. That enigmatic character was Don. In 2006, Don was reimagined and brought to life by Shah Rukh Khan in his own irresistibly charming way,” he wrote.

“The time has now come to take the legacy of Don forward and joining us in this new interpretation will be an actor whose talent and versatility I have long admired. We hope that you will show him the love you have so graciously and generously shown to Mr Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan,” the post further read. (ANI)

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Actor Rajkummar Rao is known for giving incredible performances in movies such as ‘Kai Po Che!’ and ‘Shahid’. Rao’s dedication to his craft and his love for his profession have helped him succeed in his career.

The actor is busy promoting his film ‘Srikanth-Aa Raha Hai Sabki Aankhein Kholne’. In the movie, he portrays the life of Srikanth Bolla. He is an Indian entrepreneur who founded Bollant Industries, employing unskilled and differently-abled individuals. Born visually impaired in 1992 near Hyderabad, his life story is inspiring.

In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Rao spoke about the challenges of depicting a visually impaired person on-screen and why he decided to do the film.

He said, “I found Srikanth Bolla’s story very inspiring. Born in a very poor family, how he achieved so much in his life, that he established a million-dollar company. Apart from that, he is also visually impaired. I have never played such a role, so it was very challenging for me. I felt that it would take a lot of fear to do it, but when you feel fear, you will enjoy it.”

Talking about his preparation work, he added, “The preparation was very important for this role. We used to go to blind schools for hours. We used to spend time with real-life visually impaired people. So to see and observe a lot from them, also to know about their life, that how they see the world. I spent a lot of time with Srikanth. Because we are putting his life on the screen. So to understand things from him, how he used to see things, how he made a decision. I got a lot of information from him.”

Rao continued, “The child who is playing, Shrikant, is also visually impaired. He is also blind. So I spent two days with him to understand his body language.”

Director Tushar Hiranandani shared that he made Rajkummar’s work more challenging by making him act with the visually impaired kids.

“All the children, all the characters, they are all visually impaired. So that he had to work with them. Because no one can act better than them. They are natural. So he had to match that. And he did it and in a better way.”

The ‘Kai Po Che!’ actor added, “It is a beautiful story. His character inspires others to move forward in life despite challenges. His passion helped him to fight the hurdles.”

Apart from Rao and Alaya F, the film also has Sharad Kelkar and Jyotika.

Produced by T-Series and Chalk N Cheese Films Production LLP, the movie is directed by Tushar Hiranandani and written by Jagdeep Sidhu and Sumit Purohit.

‘Srikanth’ is slated to have a theatrical release on May 10, 2024.

Meanwhile, RajKummar will also be seen in the sports drama ‘Mr and Mrs Mahi’ opposite Janhvi Kapoor. (ANI)

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Maharashtra Minister and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Chhagan Bhujbal, who was eyeing to contest as Mahayuti candidate in the Lok Sabha polls, has withdrawn from the race on Friday over the delay in the announcement of the candidate for the Nashik seat.

“I am withdrawing from this fight. It’s taking longer. Only discussion is going on. I am withdrawing from contesting the Lok Sabha elections,” Bhujbal said while addressing a press conference on Friday.

Bhujbal claimed that he was told by NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel that Union Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah has suggested his name for the Nashik seat.

“On the day of Holi festival, Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel called me and said that when Nashik seat was discussed in the meeting, Amit Shah said that Chhagan Bhujbal will contest from Nashik seat, though Sameer Bhujbal’s name was also raised,” the NCP leader said.

He further alleged that the naming the candidate for the Nashik seat was taking longer despite “having the circumstances,” while urging the party to announce the candidate for the seat soon.

“When I went to Nashik, I received support from everyone, including the OBC, Marathas and ST communities. I called Devendra Fadnavis and asked him to give the candidature to Sameer Bhujbal from Nashik. Devendra Fadnavis also said that you will have to contest the elections. The Centre, which is Amit Shah and the Prime Minister also expressed the same wish. Despite these circumstances, the seat has not been announced yet,” he said.

“The issue regarding Nashik seat has not been cleared yet. The MVA declared its candidates three weeks ago and started campaigning. The more time we take the more loss we will face. Therefore, this deadlock had to be broken…I decided that I did not want to be part of this fight…I have decided that I will not be the candidate (from Nashik)…”

The Maha Vikas Aghadi has fielded Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Rajabhau Waze from Nashik, while a dispute over the seat has been going on among the alliance partners of the ruling coalition, Mahayuti, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena-Shinde faction and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.

Reportedly, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the NCP have both staked claims over the seat, which is still undecided.

The voting in Nashik will be held on May 20 in the fifth phase.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, which has 48 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, is polling in five seats today. The polling is held in Chandrapur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Ramtek and Nagpur on Friday.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 seats it contested in alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena. Elections to the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held in five phases. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

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Parliamentary seats in northeastern states and West Bengal recorded high voter turnout till 3 pm in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on Friday with polling percentage also picking up in constituencies in some other states and union territories which went to the polls. Polling percentage was relatively less in Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.

Voting is being held in 102 seats in the first phase of Lok Sabha election.

Voting for India’s parliamentary election, the largest democratic exercise in the world, began at 7 am with Election Commission urging people to exercise their franchise in maximum number.

Of the 102 seats going to the polls on Friday, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had won 43 seats and parties in INDIA bloc 48 seats in 2019 election. While the BJP-led NDA is seeking third consecutive term in office under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the INDIA bloc is hoping to oust it from power.

Polling is being held in 21 states and union territories in the first phase. These are – Arunachal Pradesh (two seats), Assam (five), Bihar (four), Chhattisgarh (one), Madhya Pradesh (six), Maharashtra (five), Manipur (two), Meghalaya (two), Mizoram (one), Nagaland (one), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (one), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (one), Uttar Pradesh (eight), Uttarakhand (five), West Bengal (three), Andaman and Nicobar (one), Jammu and Kashmir (one), Lakshadweep (one) and Puducherry (one).

According to Election Commission data at 3 pm, Tripura, which saw brisk polling in the initial hours, continued to maintain its lead with 68.35 poll percentage. It was 55.58 per cent for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam (60.70), Chhattisgarh (58.14), Jammu and Kashmir (57.09), Madhya Pradesh (53.40) Manipur (63.03), Meghalaya (61.95), Mizoram (49.97), Nagaland (53.38), Puducherry (58.86), Sikkim (52.72). Seats in West Bengal also witnessed a high voting percentage of 66. 34 per cent.

In seats in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, 47.44 per cent voters had cast their ballot by 3 pm.

In Tamil Nadu, where all 39 Lok Sabha seats are going to the polls, voting percentage was 51.18 per cent till 3pm. In Uttarakhand, where polling is being held on all five parliamentary seats, the voting percentage was 45.62 per cent.

The polling percentage was relatively low till 3 pm in Bihar (39.73 pc), Andaman and Nicobar islands recorded (45.48 pc), Lakshadweep (43.98), Maharashtra (44.12), Rajasthan (41.51).

Polling is also being held on Friday for assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

According to Election Commission data at 3 pm, it was 56.19 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh and 52.73 per cent in Sikkim.

Polling will be completed in a single phase today in Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, voting will take place across all seven phases starting April 19.

The poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission on March 16. Bypolls to 26 assembly constituencies will also be held alongside the Lok Sabha and four state assembly polls.

Voting for bypolls is being held in the Ramnagar seat in Tripura and the Vilavancode seat in Tamil Nadu today.

The first phase has the highest number of parliamentary constituencies among all phases.

An estimated 8.4 crore male voters, 8.23 crore female voters and 11,371 third gender electors are eligible to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls.

The Lok Sabha polls will be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The results will be announced on June 4. (ANI)

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The Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan tracked six Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am. on Thursday (April 18) and 6 a.m. on Friday (April 19), reported Taiwan News.

As per the MND, out of the six PLA aircraft, four of them crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the southwest area of the nation’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ), while one of them crossed the line in the northeast ADIZ.

Taiwan responded by monitoring the PLA operations with planes, naval ships, and air defence missile systems. Taiwan has detected 110 Chinese naval vessels and 164 Chinese military aircraft so far this month, reported Taiwan News.

China has been using grey zone tactics more frequently since September 2020, gradually expanding the number of military planes and navy vessels in the Taiwan area.

Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.” (ANI)

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Tripura is leading the voter turnout charts after 34.54 per cent voting percentage was recorded in the state till 11 am as per the data released by the Election Commission of India.

Other states like West Bengal (33.56) Meghalaya (33.12) and Madhya Pradesh (30.56) are also witnessing high voter turnout percentages.

The lowest turnout till 11 am has been recorded in Lakshadweep (16.33 per cent).

Voting percentages for the states participating in phase 1 elections are — Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 21.82 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh – 18.74 per cent, Assam – 27.22 per cent, Bihar – 20.42 per cent, Chhattisgarh – 28.12 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir – 22.60 per cent, Maharashtra – 19.17 per cent

Manipur – 28.19 per cent, Meghalaya – 33.12 per cent, Mizoram – 26.56 per cent, Nagaland – 22.82 per cent, Puducherry – 28.10 per cent, Rajasthan – 22.51 per cent, Sikkim – 21.20 per cent, Tamil Nadu – 23.72 per cent, Tripura – 34.54 per cent, Uttar Pradesh – 25.20 per cent, Uttarakhand 24.83 per cent.

The voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was over 67 per cent.

Meanwhile, BJP had filed a complaint with the Election Commission after a polling agent was not allowed to enter Booth in Coochbehar constituency earlier today.

Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am.

Voters will exercise their franchise until 6:00 pm. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 1.87 lakh polling stations have been set up, while 18 lakh personnel have been deployed across the 102 constituencies going to the polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc-INDIA- a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing to oust him from power.

The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. (ANI)

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As of 9:30 am voter turnout percentages varied across states participating in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections with states like West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh leading the voter turnout charts.

According to the data released by the Election Commission of India, West Bengal saw a 15.09 per cent voter turnout while Madhya Pradesh recorded a 15 per cent till 9 am.

Voting percentages for the states participating in phase 1 elections are —

Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 8.64 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh – 6.29 per cent, Assam – 11.15 per cent, Bihar 9.23 per cent, Chhattisgarh 12.02 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 10.43 per cent, Lakshadweep 5.59 per cent, Maharashtra 6.98 per cent.

Manipur 11.91 per cent, Meghalaya 13.71 per cent, Mizoram 11.22 per cent, Nagaland 10.64 per cent, Puducherry 10.11 per cent, Rajasthan 10.67 per cent, Sikkim 7.92 per cent, Tamil Nadu 8.25 per cent, Tripura 15.21 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 12.66 per cent, Uttarakhand 10.54 per cent

The voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was over 67 per cent.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo informed that elections in the state are going smoothly.

“There are four to five places where the functioning of EVMs was delayed due to technical fault but all were rectified,” he said.

Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 began on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories as the mega seven-phase electoral exercise commenced at 7:00 am.

Voters will exercise their franchise until 6:00 pm. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 1.87 lakh polling stations have been set up, while 18 lakh personnel have been deployed across the 102 constituencies going to the polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc-INDIA- a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing to oust him from power.

The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/