India Kicks Off 2024 General Election with First Phase of Voting

The first phase of the 2024 Indian General Election began on April 19, with voting taking place in 102 Lok Sabha constituencies across 21 states and union territories. Over 16.63 crore voters, including 8.4 crore men and 8.23 crore women, are eligible to cast their votes at 1.87 lakh polling stations. The election will feature 3.51 million young voters aged 20-29, and over 14 lakh registered voters aged 85 and above.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are seeking a record third term, riding on the back of economic growth, welfare programs, and Hindu nationalism. The BJP is aiming to win 370 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, a steep rise from its 2019 score. The opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), led by the Indian National Congress, is hoping for a rebound after winning just 90 seats in 2019.

Key battleground states in the first phase include Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, and Bihar. Among the prominent candidates are Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Bhupendra Yadav, Kiren Rijiju, and others, as well as opposition leaders like Congress's Gaurav Gogoi and DMK's Kanimozhi.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made, with the use of helicopters, special trains, and cars to transport polling and security staff. Webcasting and micro-observers will be deployed at more than half of the polling sites. Sporadic incidents of violence have been reported during the ongoing elections in West Bengal, where polling is being held in three seats - Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar.

Why this matters: The 2024 Indian General Election is a crucial test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, as they seek to further consolidate their power and drive India's economic growth trajectory. The election outcome will also have significant implications for India's strategic partnerships, with the country being viewed as a bulwark against China by the Biden administration.

The general elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the results to be announced on June 4. In 2019, the UPA alliance led by the Congress won 45 of the 102 seats at stake in the first phase, while the NDA alliance led by the BJP won 41. Six of these seats have been redrawn as part of the delimitation exercise. The BJP is hoping to make gains in the northeast, Hindi heartland, Jammu, Gujarat, and make inroads in Tamil Nadu and Odisha.

Key Takeaways

• Phase 1 of 2024 Indian General Election began on April 19 in 102 Lok Sabha seats.
• PM Modi's BJP seeks 3rd term, aiming for 370 of 543 seats; opposition INDIA alliance hopes for rebound.
• Key battleground states include Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, UP, MP, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar.
• Elaborate security arrangements, webcasting, micro-observers deployed; sporadic violence in West Bengal.
• Election outcome crucial for India's strategic partnerships, with US viewing India as bulwark against China.