Lakshadweep Islands Record 83.88% Voter Turnout in 2024 Lok Sabha Election

The Lakshadweep islands witnessed a voter turnout of 83.88% in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, marking a marginal decrease from the 85.21% turnout recorded in 2019. Of the total 57,784 registered voters, 48,468 exercised their right to vote, with female voters surpassing their male counterparts.

The island of Chetlat recorded the highest turnout at 90.81%, while Minicoy island had the lowest at 63.70%. The electoral battle was primarily between the Congress' Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed and the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Mohammed Faizal P.P., with the latter having won the seat in 2019 by a narrow margin.

This time, the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar fielded T.P. Yousuf from Kadmat island, while the Sharad Pawar faction once again backed Mohammed Faizal P.P. The fierce competition between the two NCP factions and the Congress added an interesting dynamic to the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha constituency.

Why this matters: The high voter turnout in Lakshadweep, despite a marginal decrease from the previous election, demonstrates the active political engagement of the island's population. The outcome of this closely contested seat could potentially impact the balance of power in the Lok Sabha.

Election officials commended the voters of Lakshadweep for their enthusiastic participation in the democratic process. "The people of Lakshadweep have once again shown their commitment to democracy by turning out in large numbers to cast their votes," said the Chief Electoral Officer of Lakshadweep.

Key Takeaways

• Lakshadweep saw 83.88% voter turnout, a marginal decrease from 2019.
• Chetlat island had the highest turnout at 90.81%, Minicoy the lowest at 63.70%.
• NCP's Mohammed Faizal P.P. won the seat in 2019, facing Congress' Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed.
• NCP factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar fielded competing candidates.
• High turnout demonstrates Lakshadweep's active political engagement, impacting Lok Sabha balance.