Election LIVE | First phase records 62% voter turnout; violence, EVM glitches affect voting

Over 66% votes cast till 3 pm in West Bengal's three LS seats

A voter turnout of 66.34 per cent was recorded till 3 pm in the three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal where elections were underway in the first phase on Friday, officials said.

Polling started at 7 am in Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduars seats, where a total of 56.26 lakh people are eligible to vote, they said.

"Till 3 pm, the voter turnout in Coochbehar was 65.54 per cent, while that in Jalpaiguri was 67.28 per cent, and in Alipurduars was 66.23 per cent," an election official said.

All three seats are reserved, with Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri for SCs and Alipurduars for STs.

A total of 37 candidates are in the fray in the three constituencies where voting will continue till 6 pm.

Vehicle carrying EVM sinks in Assam river

An SUV carrying an electronic voting machine partially sank into a river after water level rose suddenly washing away a mechanised boat that was ferrying the vehicle in Assam’s Lakhimpur constituency on Friday, officials said.

The driver and the polling officer of the vehicle managed to get out before water gushed into the vehicle, an official said.

It was on its way to Amarpur area in Sadiya to replace an EVM after a technical glitch was detected in it as polling commenced in the morning, the official said.

A quick response team stationed at Sadiya dispatched the SUV with the EVM, accompanied by the driver and an official.

“As the vehicle was being carried by a mechanised boat across the Deopani river, its water level and current suddenly increased. The boat sank under the force of the water, and the vehicle also partially sank,” the official said.

“A State Disaster Response Force team was called in to pull the vehicle out of the water. The EVM, meant for replacement, was damaged in the accident,” he added

Incidents of firing, intimidation reported from Manipur, no injuries

Incidents of intimidation and firing were reported from at least two places in Inner Manipur constituency where voting for the Lok Sabha polls is currently underway, officials said on Friday.

At Thamnapokpi under Moirang constituency in Bishnupur district, armed men fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth prompting voters to flee, police said on Friday, adding additional security personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the situation.

Unidentified armed men also intimidated election agents of a particular political party at different places and asked them to leave the polling stations, they said.

At Uripok and Iroishemba in Imphal West district, armed men asked agents of a party to leave the premises of polling stations, an official said.

"Incensed with the intimidation, voters at Iroishemba forcefully entered polling stations and destroyed elections materials and equipment," the official said.

At Kiyamgei in Imphal East district's Keirao constituency, armed men fired blank shots and intimidated Congress polling agents.

Earlier in the morning, at Khongman Zone 4 in Imphal East district, an altercation broke out between voters and unidentified men leading to damage of EVMs.

Meanwhile, several areas in Kuki-dominated assembly segments in Outer Manipur recorded a thin turnout till 1pm.

Saitu and Saikul constituencies in Kangpokpi district recorded a turnout of 13.22 per cent and 8.58 per cent, respectively, officials said.

Henglep in Churachandpur district recorded the highest turnout in all Kuki-dominated assembly segments with 49 per cent.

Churachandpur assembly segment on the other hand recorded 43.67 per cent turnout.

Chandel constituency, which has both Naga and Kuki voters, recorded a turnout of 68.63 per cent.

Meitei dominated assembly segments in Outer Manipur, however, recorded a slightly higher turnout than Kuki areas.

Khangabok in Thoubal district recorded 52.68 per cent voting, officials said.

Polling is underway in 15 assembly segments of the total 28 constituencies of Outer Manipur on Friday.

'Substantial turnout till 1 pm,' says EC

The Election Commission reported “substantial” voter turnout till 1 pm in many states and Union territories where voting is underway in phase one of Lok Sabha elections on Friday (April 19).

Polling was progressing "smoothly and peacefully" across 21 states and union territories, the Election Commission (EC) said.

Visuals of voters standing in long queues waiting for their chance to vote were seen across polling stations as voting began simultaneously at 7 AM, the poll watchdog said.

People were undeterred by rains in certain parts such as Jammu and Kashmir's Uddhampur and waited for their turn.

Assembly elections are also being held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

In a first, people of Andaman's vulnerable Shompen tribe vote

For the first time in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seven members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTGs) of Great Nicobar Islands on Friday exercised their voting rights for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the union territory, an official said.

Not only Shompen tribe members exercised their voting rights at polling station 411 named as 'Shompen Hut' built inside the forest staff quarters but also they posed for selfies at a designated cut-out made by the Election Commission of India, which reads – "I vote for sure".

The Shompen tribes were assisted in their language by an interpreter known as 'Mathiyas' (a Nicobari tribal youth).

Speaking to PTI, Chief Electoral Officer, B S Jaglan said, "This is for the first time a total of seven members of Shompen tribe exercised their voting rights. Earlier, we have given them training about EVMs and VVPATs through a trainer. It's good to see that they came out of the jungle and voted for the first time." As per the 2011 census the population of the Shompen was 229.

"Other two primitive tribes like Onge and Great Andamanese too exercised their voting rights like in 2019 Lok Sabha election but seven Shompen did it for the first time out of 98 Shompen voters," the CEO said.

An election official said nearly 91 per cent of voting happened at Dugong Creek (little Andaman tehsil of South Andaman district) where Onge primate tribes live exclusively (it is a reserved forest area). "Out of 68 Onge, 62 of them voted including 35 male and 27 female," Returning Officer, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arjun Sharma said.

Similarly, 100 per cent voting happened at Strait Island which is an exclusively restricted area for the Great Andamanese tribe. "Out of 39 Great Andamanese, all 39 Great Andamanese exercised their voting rights," Sharma said.

The total number of voters in the Union Territory (UT) is 3,15148, which includes 1,64,012 male, 1,51,132 female and four voters in the third gender category. The voters include 39 Great Andamanese tribes of Strait Islands, 68 Onge tribes at Hut Bay and 98 Shompen tribes of Great Nicobar Island.

A total of 12 candidates, including two women and five independents will contest for the lone Lok Sabha seat in 412 polling stations. However, the contest is between the Congress candidate and sitting MP Kuldeep Rai Sharma and the BJP nominee Bishnu Pada Ray.

Chhattisgarh records 42.57% turnout till 1 pm in Bastar LS seat; CRPF officer hurt in IED blast

A voter turnout of more than 42 per cent was recorded till 1 pm on Friday in the Naxal-hit Bastar Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh, which saw a CRPF officer getting injured in an explosion of a pressure IED planted by Naxalites, officials said.

"Amid tight security, polling in the Bastar seat started at 7 am and is underway smoothly. At least 42.57 per cent polling was registered till 1 pm," an election official said.

An assistant commandant of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was injured when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED), planted by Naxalites, exploded in Bhairamgarh police station area of Bijapur district, police said.

The incident occurred near Chihka polling booth under Bhairamgarh police station limits when a team of security personnel was out on an area domination operation in the area in view of polling.

During the exercise, Manu HC, assistant commandant belonging to CRPF's 62nd battalion, came in contact with the pressure IED triggering the blast that left him injured on his left leg and hand, he said.

In another incident, a CRPF jawan deployed on poll security duty was injured when a shell of an under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL) accidentally exploded in Bijapur district.

In a post on 'X', Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, "Received sad news that a soldier engaged in the security of a polling station suffered injuries in UBGL shell blast in Bijapur amid the ongoing voting in Bastar Lok Sabha. Instructions have been given to ensure proper treatment for the injured. His condition stated to be out of danger. I wish for his speedy recovery".

Long queues of voters were witnessed at several polling stations in Dantewada, Bijapur and Bastar districts. Elderly voters, some in wheelchairs, also arrived at the polling booths to cast their vote.

Among the initial voters were Congress candidate Kawasi Lakhma, who cast his vote at the Nagaras polling booth (Sukma), BJP's Mahesh Kashyap in Kalcha (Bastar), state BJP chief Kiran Deo in Shanti Nagar (Jagdalpur- Bastar) and state Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap in Farsaguda (Bastar).

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P and Commissioner of Bastar Division (Revenue) Shyam Dhawade cast their votes in Haatkachora polling booth in Bastar district.

Sundarraj said that in this battle of "Ballot versus Bullet", ultimately the ballot would emerge successful, meaningful and powerful.

"Despite repeated boycott and threat calls by Maoists, there is lot of enthusiasm and commitment among the people of Bastar, who are turning out in huge numbers to the polling stations," he said.

The IG appealed to the voters of Bastar to come out to polling stations and exercise their franchise in order to strengthen the democratic values.

Defying a call for a poll boycott by Naxalites in a remote village Chandameta in Bastar district, villagers were seen queuing up to cast their votes in the polling booth there.

The Balud polling booth in Dantewada district sported the theme of environment conservation, with officials giving away saplings to voters to create awareness about conservation.

At least 60,000 state and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the constituency to ensure peaceful polling.

Polling in booths of Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Chitrakot, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta assembly constituencies in the Bastar Lok Sabha seat is being held from 7 am to 3 pm.

In the Bastar assembly constituency, polling is being held from 7 am to 5 pm, while in Jagdalpur, 175 booths are seeing voting from 7 am to 5 pm, and in 72 booths, it is being held from 7 am to 3 pm, she said.

Altogether 14,72,207 voters, including 7,71,679 women, 7,00,476 men and 52 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the seat with 11 candidates in the fray, the official said.

As many as 1,961 polling booths have been set up in the constituency, of which 61 were categorised as vulnerable and 196 as critical.

The straight fight is between the Congress's firebrand leader Kawasi Lakhma and BJP's Mahesh Kashyap, a fresh face, in Bastar, which the saffron party lost in 2019.

Over 52% votes cast in Tripura West till 1 pm amid allegations of vote rigging

The Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency registered a voter turnout of 52.67 per cent till 1 pm on Friday amid allegations of irregularities.

The opposition Congress and CPI(M) alleged that large-scale "rigging" happened in several places across the constituency, with the Election Commission saying that it received some complaints and was looking into those.

In the by-election to the Ramnagar assembly seat, which was being held simultaneously, a turnout of 43.01 per cent was recorded till 1 pm.

"Polling has been largely peaceful. Some complaints of stopping voters from going to booths, driving out of polling agents and malfunctioning of EVMs were received. We are checking all the complaints," Tripura West's Returning Officer Vishal Kumar said.

Security forces are keeping a close watch on the situation, he said.

"The way voters are coming to the booths despite the scorching heat, we expect that the turnout would be 80 per cent by 5 pm," he said.

State Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha, the CPI(M)-backed candidate in the Tripura West seat, alleged that besides "rigging", his supporters were being threatened.

"The election has turned into a farce with BJP-backed goons attacking polling agents of the opposition. We are receiving reports of attacks on our polling agents from different places, including Udaipur, Belonia and Sonamura. The situation is worst in the Ramnagar assembly seat," he alleged.

Congress-supported CPI(M) candidate in Ramnagar Ratan Das alleged "goons" drove out his agents from most of the booths.

"They started threatening the agents since last night. We are unhappy with the role of the Election Commission," he said.

Chief Minister Manik Saha said the EC has assured that voting would be held in a free, fair, and peaceful manner.

On the allegation of rigging, he said, "If anything such thing happens, the Election Commission will take steps. Rigging or violence is not supposed to take place during the elections." He said the BJP has been working for the welfare of all sections of society.

"The BJP government has been working relentlessly for the people. I appeal to the voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right by joining the festival of democracy," he told the press after casting his vote at the MTB Girls' School.

Altogether 14.61 lakh people are eligible to vote in this phase of Lok Sabha polls in Tripura. Congress has pitted Saha against BJP's Biplab Kumar Deb, the former CM, in the Tripura West seat.

In the Ramnagar assembly constituency, where 54,669 voters are eligible to vote, BJP has fielded Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder against CPI(M)'s Das.

43% polling recorded till 1 pm in J&K's Udhampur LS seat despite rains

Braving incessant rains, an estimated 43 per cent of voters registered their choice by 1 pm on Friday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur parliamentary constituency, officials said.

Polling began at 7 am in 2,637 polling stations across the constituency and was going on peacefully with no untoward incident reported, they said, adding that there are 12 candidates in the fray.

Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is eyeing a third term after winning the Udhampur seat for the BJP in 2014 and 2019, is contesting against Congress leader and two-time former MP Choudhary Lal Singh and the DPAP's G M Saroori, besides six independents.

This is the first major electoral battle after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories in 2019.

Braving inclement weather, early voters were seen heading for polling stations before the start of voting, the officials said, adding more than 11,000 polling staff, including reserve, have been deployed while security arrangements are foolproof to ensure free and fair elections.

As the weather conditions improved in most places around noon, long queues started forming outside polling stations in the constituency that encompasses an expansive area of 16,707 square kilometres. It consists of 18 Assembly segments spanning across five districts -- Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and Kathua.

The officials said up to 1 pm, the Bani segment recorded a polling percentage 41.98, Banihal 30.41, Basohli 44.82, Bhaderwah 43.01, Bilawar 43.64, Chenani 43.39, Doda 46.87, Doda West 48.82, Hiranagar 43.30, Inderwal 48.87, Jasrota 48.94, Kathua (SC) 45.25, Kishtwar 34.24, Padder-Nagseni 48.56, Ramban 45.75, Ramnagar (SC) 42.17, Udhampur East 48.30 and Udhampur West 36.31.

The overall poll percentage was recorded at 43.11.

Polling brisk in TN, registers 40.05% turnout by 1 pm

Polling picked up gradually in all the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies across Tamil Nadu after commencing on a dull note early in the morning. The state registered a poll percentage of 40.05 at 1pm, according to official data.

Dharmapuri saw a voter turnout of 44.08 percent while Central Chennai polled the lowest with 32.31 percent, the election commission said.

At 11 am, the state registered a poll percentage of 24.37.

Voting was incident-free but for some minor glitches in the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) at a few places, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said on Friday.

The voter turnout was around 12.55 percent at 9 am and in Chennai Central constituency it was 8.5 percent.

"There was a delay of about five to twenty minutes in four or five polling booths in Porur, Dharmapuri and Tiruchirappalli after the EVMs malfunctioned, probably due to lose wiring or cable fault," Sahoo told reporters here. But the machines were set right without much delay and voting resumed, he added.

A group of AIADMK members had resorted to a sudden road roko at Vysarpadi here, over an alleged malfunction of an EVM at a school in MKB Nagar.

Asked about the death of a voter at a polling booth each in Salem and Kallakurichi constituencies, Sahoo said he had sought a detailed report from the district election officials on the incident.

"Appropriate measures were taken at all the polling centres to provide shade and drinking water to protect the voters from the intense heat," the CEO said.

The two persons have been identified as R Chinnaponnu, 77, in Thammampatty in Salem and N Palaniswamy, 69, of Suramangalam in Salem.

Meanwhile, about one thousand voters of Ennore who had announced to boycott the election over the ammonia gas leak incident at Ennore Creek withdrew their decision and decided to vote.

An all-women-run polling station was established in Erode in the state exclusively for women voters to exercise their franchise. It was decked in pink.

There were no untoward incidents and polling has been peaceful in the state, Sahoo said.

Asked about a section of people resorting to boycott elections, he said the district officials have been told to ensure 100 percent polling.

Vilavancode assembly constituency in Kanyakumari district where a by-poll is being held has registered 35.14 percent polling till 1 pm. 

Voter turnout at 30.6% in 5 Maharashtra seats till 1 pm

Nearly 30.6 per cent of the 95 lakh eligible voters cast their ballots till 1 pm on Friday in the five Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra where polling is underway in the first phase of the general elections, an official said.

Altogether 97 candidates, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, are in the fray in Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) constituency, all located in eastern-most parts of the state.

The voter turnout stood at 34.56 per cent in Bhandara-Gondia till 1 pm, the official said. Chandrapur recorded a turnout of 30.96 per cent, Gadchiroli-Chimur 40.01 per cent, Nagpur 28.75 per cent and Ramtek 28.73 per cent till 1 pm, the official said.

The average turnout in the five seats was about 30.6 per cent till 1 pm, he said.

To avoid any technical snags cropping up in Electronic Voting Machines being used in remote polling booths in Gadchiroli, three spare EVMs were dispatched by a helicopter to the Sironcha area of the district, another official said.

Polling in the 43 other Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held in four more phases later this month and in May.