Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the "excellent response" received by the BJP in the initial phase of the Lok Sabha elections, where a national average voter turnout of 60 percent was recorded.
Taking to the microblogging platform X, PM Modi expressed gratitude to all voters and highlighted the overwhelming support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"First phase, great response! Thank you to all those who have voted today. Getting EXCELLENT feedback from today's voting. It's clear that people across India are voting for NDA in record numbers," PM Modi stated.
The first phase of polling covered 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories, as part of the seven-phase electoral process.
The Election Commission (EC) lauded the "high" turnout, noting largely peaceful voting proceedings.
In contrast to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections' first phase, which recorded a voter turnout of 69.43 percent with 91 constituencies, the recent phase witnessed lower figures. Incidents of violence marred the elections in certain areas, notably West Bengal and Manipur, where ethnic tensions flared.
Inner Manipur Congress candidate A Bimol Akoijam alleged interference by BJP workers and armed groups, resulting in disruption of voting.
Instances of electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering were reported in Inner Manipur polling booths, purportedly due to dissatisfaction over alleged proxy voting.
Despite these challenges, several states and Union Territories, including Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep, successfully completed polling in a single phase.
A notable development was witnessed in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, where 56 villages conducted voting within their premises for the first time. The EC highlighted the significant turnout of tribal voters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar exercising their franchise for the first time.
Throughout the voting process, citizens displayed resilience against adverse weather conditions, braving scorching heat and torrential rains with patience and determination.
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