The upcoming Lok Sabha elections are set to kick off with the first phase witnessing several key battles across the nation. In this initial phase, nine Union ministers, two former chief ministers, and an ex-governor will be vying for seats in the parliament. A total of 102 seats spread across 21 states will go to the polls in this phase.
Wide Geographic Spread of Polling
The electoral landscape spans from Tamil Nadu to Uttarakhand, with significant focus on states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Tamil Nadu will see voting in all 39 seats, while Uttarakhand will witness polling in five constituencies. Additionally, the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal will undergo polling across all seven phases of the election. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.
In order to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process, the Election Commission has deployed over 18 lakh polling personnel across 1.87 lakh polling stations. This mammoth effort aims to accommodate the participation of over 16.63 crore eligible voters who will exercise their democratic right during this phase.
Among the prominent contestants, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is seeking re-election from Nagpur, where he faces off against Vikas Thakre of the Congress. Similarly, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will contest from Arunachal West against former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki of the Congress. Sarbananda Sonowal, former Chief Minister of Assam, is in the fray from Dibrugarh, pitted against candidates from Assam Jatiya Parishad and Aam Aadmi Party.
Other Union Ministers contesting include Sanjeev Baliyan in Muzaffarnagar, Jitendra Singh in Udhampur, Bhupendra Yadav in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. Moreover, Arjun Ram Meghwal from Bikaner, L Murugan in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris, Tamilisai Soundararajan in Chennai South, and Nisith Pramanik in West Bengal’s Coochbehar.
ALSO READ: “Lok Sabha Election 2024: Essential Documents for Voting in Phase 1- List here!”
These contests reflect the high stakes involved, as political heavyweights vie for parliamentary representation. With diverse constituencies and varied candidates, the first phase sets the stage for a riveting electoral season ahead. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, the outcome of these battles will shape the political landscape of the nation for years to come.
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