India, the world’s largest democracy, has embarked on its monumental electoral journey as 102 Lok Sabha constituencies across 21 states and union territories went to polls in the first phase. With over 1,600 candidates vying for the mandate, this election season is poised to be a watershed moment in Indian politics.
The 44-day polling marathon, spanning across 7 phases, will ultimately decide the fate of 543 Lok Sabha seats. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is eyeing a historic third consecutive term, having fielded candidates for 77 of the 102 seats in the initial phase. Its principal rival, the Indian National Congress, is contesting 56 seats, setting the stage for a gripping electoral battle.
As the nation went to polls, the voter turnout surged steadily, reaching nearly 60% by 7 pm. With close to 17 crore eligible voters, the election commission is witnessing enthusiastic participation from citizens across the country.
Tamil Nadu emerged as a key battleground state in the inaugural phase, with all 39 seats up for grabs. The BJP, opting for a solo campaign after parting ways with its longstanding ally AIADMK, faces a formidable challenge from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, which clinched 38 seats in the 2019 elections.
Manuraj Sundaram, the spokesperson of DMK, expressed confidence in maintaining the alliance’s dominance, citing Tamil Nadu’s historical reluctance towards BJP’s influence.
“From where I stand, I see the tone being that of change in the New Delhi regime. Tamil Nadu I think will remain the way it had in 2019 and the way it lived in 2021- which is in favour of DMK-Congress. Tamil Nadu has always been a place where BJP has found hard to break and I don’t think they have managed to sort out the formula to enter into Tamil Nadu,” Sundaram stated in an interview to CNBC-TV18.
Mohan Kumaramangalam, spokesperson of Congress echoed the same sentiment stating Prime Minister Modi’s nine visits to the state have struggled to resonate with voters. Despite endeavours to evoke emotional responses on issues like Sengol and Katchatheevu, the BJP’s popularity remains subdued, with Tamil voters prioritising rational concerns, Kumaramangalam added.
Western Uttar Pradesh emerged as another focal point, witnessing voting in 8 constituencies, including Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur. The BJP aims to consolidate its position after securing 3 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance had clinched the remaining 5 seats in the previous elections.
However, the electoral process in Bengal was marred by reports of violence in the Coochbehar constituency, overshadowing the voting in the 3 contested Lok Sabha seats, all previously won by the BJP in 2019.
Additionally, voting took place across five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, including two new constituencies. The BJP, aiming to maintain its dominance, fielded Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its candidate in Dibrugarh, while the Congress pinned its hopes on Gaurav Gogoi in Jorhat.
Additionally, all Lok Sabha constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Sikkim participated in the electoral process, contributing to the democratic fervour sweeping the nation.
Watch the accompanying video for the entire conversation.