The Lok Sabha elections of 2024 kicked off with phase one concluding on April 19, witnessing a nationwide voter turnout of 62.37 percent across 102 constituencies spanning 17 states and four Union Territories. Notably, Tripura emerged with the highest voter participation at 80.17 percent, while Bihar lagged behind with the lowest turnout of 48.50 percent.
High Turnout in Tripura, Lowest in Bihar
In the northeastern region, Tripura led with a commendable voter turnout of 80.17 percent during the first phase of polling. Following closely behind were Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland with turnout rates of 74.21 percent, 54.23 percent, and 56.91 percent, respectively. Arunachal Pradesh also saw significant participation with a turnout of 67.15 percent, while Assam recorded 72.10 percent.
On the contrary, Bihar witnessed the lowest turnout nationally, with only 48.50 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots by 9 pm. Among the constituencies in Bihar, Gaya saw 52 percent turnout, Aurangabad and Jamui recorded 50 percent each, and Nawada had the lowest with 41.50 percent voter participation.
Violence Mars West Bengal Polls
In West Bengal, where polls were held in three reserved seats, namely Cooch Behar (SC), Jalpaiguri (SC), and Alipurduars (ST), a relatively high turnout of 77.57 percent was recorded. However, sporadic incidents of violence marred the otherwise peaceful polling, particularly in Cooch Behar, where clashes between workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were reported.
Rajasthan’s Varied Turnout
Rajasthan witnessed a mixed voter turnout across its 12 parliamentary constituencies, with an overall average of 56.58 percent. Ganganagar registered the highest participation at 62.93 percent, while Jhunjhunu recorded the lowest at 47.98 percent. The capital city of Jaipur saw a turnout of 61.23 percent, followed by Bikaner at 52.53 percent, Churu at 61.05 percent, Sikar at 55.06 percent, Jaipur Rural at 54.44 percent, Alwar at 55.82 percent, and Dausa at 49.57 percent.
Upcoming Phases and Election Schedule
The general elections are scheduled to be held in seven phases, with phase one having begun on April 19 and ending on June 1. The subsequent phases are slated for April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, respectively. The election results are expected to be announced on June 4, marking the culmination of this crucial democratic exercise.
In conclusion, while some regions have shown enthusiastic participation in the electoral process, others have struggled to mobilize voters effectively. With several phases still remaining, it remains to be seen how the voter dynamics evolve and shape the political landscape of the nation.
