(Image source from: Businesstoday.in)

The Lok Sabha elections of 2024, which the BJP considers as a significant step towards 2047 and the Opposition views as a fight for the survival of democracy, commenced today. The first phase of this seven-phase process involves voting in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories. The seats being contested in the first phase include all seats in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, and Lakshadweep. Additionally, there will be five seats each in Assam and Maharashtra, four seats in Bihar, three seats in West Bengal, two seats in Manipur, and one seat each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh.

In addition to the Lok Sabha election, four states - Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh - will also be electing new assemblies. Among these, Arunachal Pradesh (60 seats) and Sikkim (32 seats) are the first to do so. At 3 pm, the recorded voting turnout stood at 49.78 percent. Tamil Nadu recorded a turnout of 51 percent, Rajasthan 41.5 percent, Uttar Pradesh 47.4 percent, and Madhya Pradesh 53.4 percent. Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur witnessed turnout rates of 52.7% and 54.3% respectively. In Cooch Behar, clashes erupted between Trinamool Congress and BJP workers who accused each other of violence, voter intimidation, and assault on poll agents. However, the police have denied any occurrence of violence. Gunfire was reported at a polling station in Bishnupur, Manipur, and a polling station was vandalized in Imphal East district. In Tamil Nadu, two elderly individuals, including a 77-year-old woman, passed away at polling booths in Salem district.

The BJP, fueled by a vigorous campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, aims to secure 370 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha, a significant increase from their 2019 performance. The Prime Minister has set a target of 400 seats for the NDA. In the previous election, the NDA won 353 seats, a 5% increase from 2014, with the BJP securing 303 seats. Despite the INDIA opposition bloc facing internal disarray in the lead-up to the polls, particularly due to the defection of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, they have managed to unite following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. However, despite their promises of fair competition, the political parties find themselves in conflicting positions, disregarding the principle of one-on-one contests that they had initially pledged to follow in order to challenge the BJP's dominance. The BJP, on the other hand, is aiming to secure victory in 22 out of the 25 seats in the northeast region where it currently holds sway.