The clock has started ticking for the world to witness the 'festival of democracy' i.e. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in India. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 1 will kickstart on Friday (April 19) with voters casting their votes in 21 states and choosing their representatives in the Lower House of the Parliament in 102 constituencies. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will determine whether Narendra Modi will remain Prime Minister of India or not. Notably, the BJP-led NDA is taking on a new look united opposition named I.N.D.I.A alliance, an umbrella of 28 opposition parties including the Indian National Congress (INC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), etc.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 or General Elections 2024 is the world's largest-ever democratic exercise, with 969 million registered voters eligible to cast their vote over 44 days. The votes will be counted and results will be announced on June 4. Below is full list of States and constituencies that will undergo polls in Lok Sabha Elections 2024 first phase-
Lok Sabha Polls 2024 Phase 1 States & Constituencies
Arunachal Pradesh: All 2 Lok Sabha constituencies
Assam: 5 (of 14) Lok Sabha constituencies
Bihar: 4 (of 40) Lok Sabha constituencies
Chhattisgarh: 1 (of 11) Lok Sabha constituencies
Madhya Pradesh: 6 (of 29) Lok Sabha constituencies
Maharashtra: 5 (of 48) Lok Sabha constituencies
Manipur: All 2 Lok Sabha constituencies
Meghalaya: All 2 Lok Sabha constituencies
Mizoram: 1 Lok Sabha constituency
Nagaland: 1 Lok Sabha constituencies
Rajasthan: 12 (of 25) Lok Sabha constituencies
Sikkim: 1 Lok Sabha constituency
Tamil Nadu: All 39 Lok Sabha constituencies
Tripura: 1 (of 2) Lok Sabha constituency
Uttar Pradesh: 8 (of 80) Lok Sabha constituencies
Uttarakhand: All 5 Lok Sabha constituencies
West Bengal: 3 (of 42) Lok Sabha constituencies
Andaman And Nicobar: 1 Lok Sabha constituencies
Jammu and Kashmir: 1 (of 5) Lok Sabha constituency
Lakshadweep: 1 Lok Sabha constituency
Puducherry: 1 Lok Sabha constituency
Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 1 Star Candidates
1. Nitin Gadkari
Union Highways Minister & BJP's stalwart Nitin Gadkari is contesting Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Nagpur. BJP had expressed its faith in Nitin Gadkari over his year of work for India and his constituency. Nagpur is considered to be a stronghold of the BJP. Notably, RSS has also its headquarters in Nagpur. In the last Lok Sabha Polls, Nitin Gadkari had secured victory by 2.84 lakh votes.
On the other hand, Congress has fielded Nana Patole to take on Gadkari in the orange city. Notably, Nana Patole quit the BJP in 2017 and later joined the Congress party. Patole had criticised the BJP's leadership in 2017.
2. Chirag Paswan
Calls himself the 'Hanuman of Prime Minister Modi, LJP leader Chirag Paswan is contesting the Lok Sabha Elections from Jamui, Bihar. Chirag Paswan is the son of late LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan. Chirag is banking on the Modi factor and a favourable caste equation to get reelected from Maoist-hit Jamui. Chirag is pitted against grand alliance candidate Bhudeo Choudhary of RLSP. Choudhary had won the seat in 2009 on a JD(U) ticket. Jamui has over 11% Mahadalit population that may favour Chirag.
3. Kiren Rijiju
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju is fighting his toughest battle, against Congress strongman and former CM Nabam Tuki. Kiren Rijiju, the Union MoS is fighting Lok Sabha Polls from Arunachal West. Among his opponents is the first woman to be fielded in the seat by any party ever: activist Jarjum Ete of JD(S), who says she has the edge as women voters outnumber men here. Also in the fray is Khyoda Apik who belongs to BJP’s ally, NPP. The one issue that has ruled the election campaign is the Citizenship Bill.