19 April
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
As the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections unfolds across 21 states and union territories in India, the nation witnesses a mixed bag of voter enthusiasm, incidents of violence, and minor technical glitches. With voting commencing at 7 am and continuing until 6 pm, the fate of over 1600 candidates hangs in the balance, including eight Union Ministers, two former Chief Ministers, and a former Governor.
Despite the democratic fervor, the electoral process has been marred by reports of violence, particularly in West Bengal, where several incidents have been recorded. Additionally, in Chhattisgarh, a commandant of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sustained injuries in an IED blast, highlighting the security challenges faced during elections in certain regions.
Technical hiccups also disrupted voting in some areas, with minor glitches reported in electronic voting machines across Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, and Assam. Nevertheless, voters persevered, with a 48% turnout recorded by 3 pm.
Among the states, Tripura emerged with the highest turnout, with 52% of voters casting their ballots by 1 pm. Conversely, Lakshadweep reported the lowest turnout at 30%, underscoring the varied levels of civic engagement across the country.
As the day progresses, attention remains focused on the electoral process, which extends beyond the Lok Sabha to include voting for 92 seats of the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Vidhan Sabhas. With the culmination of voting, the nation awaits the results that will shape the political landscape for years to come.