Elections

Lok Sabha Elections: Congress Seeks EC Action Against PM Modi's 'Wealth Redistribution' Remark

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP's Mukesh Dalal got elected unopposed from Surat Lok Sabha seat of Gujarat after all other candidates withdrew from the fray, party's state unit chief CR Paatil said. In other news, on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Aligarh and targeted Congress saying the party wants to ‘steal the public wealth’. Meanwhile, Congress' Rahul Gandhi is expected to hold a rally in Kerala's Alapuzha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi | PTI

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE Updates: Looking Back At Phase 1

The voter turnout in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections is expected to reach 65.5 per cent.

The voting took place in 102 electoral districts over 21 states and Union territories during the first phase of the seven-phase election on April 19.

The first phase saw the highest number of electoral districts going to polls.

The Election Commission (EC) characterized the turnout as 'high' and observed that the voting process remained 'largely peaceful'. Parts of West Bengal and Manipur observed violence which has led to repolling in 11 booths of Manipur to take place on April 22.

Over 16.63 crore individuals, comprising 8.4 crore men, 8.23 crore women, and 11,371 third-gender voters, were eligible to cast their votes in this phase. There were about 35.67 lakh first-time voters, along with 3.51 crore voters aged between 20 and 29 years.

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Manipur Repolling: Voting In 11 Booths Today

The Manipur chief electoral officer announced on Saturday that repolling will take place at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 22.

The Election Commission declared the polls conducted at these stations on April 19 as null and void and scheduled fresh polling.

The affected polling stations include Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in the Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao, and one in Thongju in the Imphal East district, as well as three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in the Imphal West district, as stated by the official.

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What happened in Manipur During Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 1

Reports of gunfire, intimidation, vandalism of EVMs, and accusations of booth capturing emerged from several parts of war-torn Manipur.

The state saw a voter turnout of 72 per cent in the Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituencies on April 19.

The Congress on Saturday demanded repoll in 47 polling stations alleging that booths were captured and elections were rigged.

Manipur Congress president K Meghachandra said the party had lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer demanding repoll in 36 polling stations in Inner Manipur constituency and 11 in Outer Manipur constituency.

How May Phases In Lok Sabha Elections 2024?

The Election Commission of India has divided the Lok Sabha elections 2024 into seven phases. The first phase of voting took place on April 19 and the next phases are scheduled for - pril 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

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Mamata Banerjee Accuses Election Commission Of Helping BJP Win

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission of India chalked out seven-phase polls to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues to carry out extensive campaigning using the nation's resources.

She alleged, "On earlier occasions, elections used to be over by May but this year, it has been extended till June 1 to enable Modi to visit various places on military planes, while we are made to arrange for our own transport, including helicopters, which are also being booked by BJP leaders so that we get little space."

"People are greatly inconvenienced by the scorching heat but Modi is unperturbed as they (BJP leaders) are campaigning in VVIP comfort with all facilities at hand," Banerjee added.

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