Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 1 Voting LIVE Updates: Polling in 91 Lok Sabha constituencies across 20 states and Union Territories will take place in the first phase. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 1 Voting HIGHLIGHTS: The first phase of Lok Sabha elections kicked off Thursday as people turned up in huge numbers to elect 91 parliamentarians in over a month-long polling exercise. Voting began in 91 Lok Sabha constituencies across 20 states and Union Territories today in the first of the mega seven-phase general elections. In Andhra Pradesh, at least two people were killed in poll-related violence in Tadipatri after TDP and YSRCP factions clashed outside a polling booth.
In Uttar Pradesh, around 51 per cent polling was recorded in western UP seats till 3 pm. In Jammu and Kashmir, 46 per cent polling was recorded till 3 pm. Voting for Assembly polls is also being held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and some seats in Odisha simultaneously.
The eight constituencies in western UP that is voting, will be closely watched as there is a lot riding on the outcome. Three Central ministers, General V K Singh, Mahesh Sharma and Satyapal Singh, and one former minister, Sanjeev Balyan, are fighting to retain their seats. The April 11 poll will be the first major test of whether the Gathbandhan of Mayawati’s BSP, Akhilesh Yadav’s SP, and Ajit’s RLD actually work on the ground.
Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2019, 10 points
Also, a total of 14 parliamentary constituencies out of 25 in the eight northeastern states are voting in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls.
Lok Sabha Election 2019 Phase 1 Voting LIVE: Counting will be done on May 23.
Uttar Pradesh (8 seats)- 63.69 pc
Bihar (4 seats)- 50 pc
West Bengal (2 seats) - 81 pc
Andhra Pradesh (25 seats)- 66 pc
Telangana (17 seats)- 61 pc (till 5 pm)
Manipur (1 seat)- 78.2 pc
Mizoram (1 seat)- 60 pc
Jammu Kashmir (2 seats)- 54.49 pc
Odisha (4 seats) - 68 pc
Assam (5 seats)- 68 pc
Chhattisgarh (1 seat)- 56 pc
Maharashtra (7 seats)- 56 pc
Tripura (1 seat) - 81.8 pc
Sikkim (1 seat)- 69 pc
Uttarakhand (5 seats)- 57.85 pc
Meghalaya (2 seats)- 67.16 pc
Arunachal Pradesh (2 seats)- 66 per cent
Nagaland (1 seat)- 78 pc
Andaman and Nicobar (1 seat)- 70.67 pc
Lakshadweep (1 seat)- 66 pc
Source: ANI
(Note: Final voter turnout may rise)
EC today said that total seizure in 2019 Election so far, till 6 pm, is Rs 2626 Crore. Rs 607 crore has been recovered in cash, liquor worth Rs 198 crore, drug & narcotics worth Rs 1091 crore, precious metal worth Rs 486 crore, freebies & other items worth Rs 48 crore.
Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer told ANI that polling could not take place at four polling stations of Gadchiroli as the polling teams could not reach there. "These are naxal-affected areas. EC will go for re-poll in these four polling stations," he said.
Two days after BJP MLA Bheema Mandvi and four other lost their lives in a Naxal attack in Dantewada district, the family members of the BJP legislator cast their votes today.
Up to 5 pm, the polling percentage was recorded at 69 per cent in Sikkim, 60 per cent in Mizoram, 78 per cent in Nagaland, 78.2 per cent in manipur, 81.8 per cent in Tripura, 68 per cent in Assam and 81 per cent in West Bengal
The polling percentage was recorded at 32.29 per cent in Baramulla and 67.39 per cent in Jammu. An overall percentage of 54.49 per cent was recorded till 5 pm at both the parliamentary constituencies.
The Election Commission on Thursday held a press conference at the end of the day as the first phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections came to an end. The commission said: "Voters in great number fearlessly used their franchise in Shyamgiri (in Bastar's Dantewada district) polling station. Turnout was 77% in this polling station. On Tuesday, BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four policemen were killed in a powerful IED blast after a group of Maoists attacked the convoy they were travelling in around near Nakulnar, around 25 km from the Dantewada district.
The Election Commission, in a press conference in the evening, said that over 70 per cent of 70,000 MCC complaints lodged on C-VIGIL app was found to be correct.
EC has received 570 proposals from the central govt for clearance under Model Code of Conduct. 547 have been disposed off. 23 pending
Polling in eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh was recorded at 63.69 per cent at the end of the day. Western UP today voted in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, with Saharanpur recording the highest polling percentage at 70.68 per cent.
CRPF told ANI that troops of 113 Battalion were fired upon while they were returning from booth number 283 in Tumrikasa Village of Gadchiroli's Dhanora at 4 pm. The troops retaliated. No injuries/loss has been reported. More details are awaited.
In Odisha, residents of Bhejipadar village in Kalahandi district boycotted the first phase of LS polls today alleging that they are still awaiting a proper road connectivity to their village despite complaining to the administration since 2017.
Here are polling percentages till 5 pm in Bihar, Telangana, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Lakshadweep and Assam
Jammu and Kashmir Thursday recorded 46.17 per cent turnout till 3 pm in Jammu and Baramulla constituencies, where voting is underway in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, even as there were protests over defective EVMs in some areas, officials said. The two constituencies house over 33 lakh electorate, reports PTI.
The National Conference and the PDP alleged that uniformed personnel "coerced" people to vote for the BJP and that EVMs malfunctioned in some places with the Congress button not working in Jammu's Poonch area. The Jammu Lok Sabha constituency recorded 59.40 per cent voter turnout, with Samba district registering the highest of 66.6 per cent polling till 3 pm, the officials said.
The Baramula Lok Sabha constituency registered 27.93 percent polling, with the highest turnout of 38.70 per cent recorded in Kupwara till 3 pm, they said.
BSF personnel fired in the air at a polling booth here on Thursday as some people, who were not carrying their identity cards, tried to forcibly enter the premises to cast their votes, police said. The incident took place at a polling booth in Rasoolpur Gujran village under Kandhla police station around 12 pm, they said, reports PTI.
Some people, who had turned up without their identity cards, tried to enter the polling booth forcibly. Pushing and shoving ensued when the presiding officer tried to stop them, said Superintendent of Police, Shamli, Ajay Kumar.
To bring the situation under control, BSF personnel at the booth fired in the air, which led to chaos. Later police personnel also reached the spot, he said. The situation is normal now and polling is underway smoothly, the SP added. However, villagers refuted the police's version of events.
The first phase of polling has concluded in Bihar. Here are the visuals from Jamui where the EVMs and VVPATs were taken to the strong room.
In Bihar, 38.50 per cent voting was recorded in Aurangabad, 44 per cent in Gaya, 43 per cent in Nawada and 41.34 per cent in Jamui till 3 pm.
Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls today in the first phase of elections, recorded 68.16 per cent of voting till 3 pm. Polling will be conducted in Inner Manipur in the second phase of general elections on April 18.
West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency, which goes to polls today in the first phase of elections, recorded a voter turnout of 68 per cent. East Tripura will go to polls in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 18.
Earlier, in the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cast his vote along with his mother and wife in Nagpur. He also appealed to the people to exercise their right.
38.55 per cent voter turnout in Nagpur till 3 pm. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was among the early ones to cast their vote for the Lok Sabha polls in the parliamentary constituency. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is contesting from Nagpur.
Voter turnout in Lakshadweep till 3 pm is 51.25 per cent, in Uttarakhand is 46.95 per cent and in Manipur is 68.90 per cent.
The Bahujan Samajwadi Party on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission that they are receiving information from various polling stations about BSP voters, especially dalits being stopped from reaching polling booths by use of force by the UP police. "All this is apparently being done on the diktat of higher-ups. Immediate intervention is required," a member of the party told ANI.
In Gurgaon, a voter park was set up this morning to spread awareness about the history of elections, provide important information related to voting.
In Gurgaon, a voter park was set up this morning to spread awareness about the history of elections, provide important information related to voting.
Lok Sabha elections voting 1st phase: Gautam Budhha Nagar Lok Sabha seat registered 50.42 per cent voting by 3 pm with Jewar Vidhan Sabha at 56%, Dadri at 52.20% and Noida at 43.08%.
Three people were killed and nine others injured after a tractor overturned near Shankarpur village in Gadchiroli, Thursday. The victims were returning to their villages after casting their votes.
Around 35.52 per cent voting has been recorded in Jammu and Kashmir (Jammu & Baramulla Lok Sabha seats) till 1 pm and 39.08 per cent voting was recorded in Sikkim Parliamentary constituency. While Mizoram recorded 46.5 per cent voting.
Over 38 per cent polling was recorded in Telanagana till 1 pm. Former Union minister Renuka Chowdary and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi are among prominent candidates in the fray.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, TRS Working President KT Rama Rao, K Kavitha and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and film actors Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, junior NTR and 'Baahubali' director SS Rajamouli were among the prominent people who cast their vote in their respective constituencies.
Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said the polling process is going peacefully across the state.
Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani files her nomination from Amethi parliamentary constituency.
In a letter to EC, the Congress has complained that the EVMs are not working properly in 39 polling booths in various constituencies in Vidarbha.
Express Photo by Debraj Deb
At least two people were killed in poll-related violence in Tadipatri in Andhra Pradesh after TDP and YSRCP factions clashed outside a polling booth.
Similar incidents of violence were reported at many places in the state, including Guntur district where Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao was allegedly attacked by YSRCP activists, who accused him of urging voters at Inumetla village to vote for TDP
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu accused YSRCP of intimidating voters to reduce the voting percentage as it would benefit them. However, YSRCP leaders accused TDP leaders of beating up its polling agents to prevent YSRCP supporters from voting for their party.
Poll turnout till 1 PM
Western Uttar Pradesh- 38.7 per cent
West Tripura- 35.4 percent at 1 PM.
Manipur- 53.44% at 1 pm
Naxals triggered an IED blast near a polling booth in Maharashtra's Gadchroli district Thursday while voting was underway, police said.
The IED (improvised explosive device) blast took place around 10.30 am in Waghezari area, around 150 metres from the polling booth where people were standing in queues to cast their votes for the Lok Sabha election, an official said.
Express Photo
Meanwhile, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will file her nomination for the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat on Thursday. She will undertake a 700-metre road show before filing the nomination, party spokesman LKP Singh said.
Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani will file her nomination papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency. Both Rae Bareli and Amethi figure in the fifth phase of the seven-phased general elections and voting there will be held on May 6.
Saharanpur- 25.60%
Kairana- 24.00%
Muzaffarnagar- 26.40%
Bijnor- 25.10%
Meerut- 21.80%
Baghpat- 25.00%
Ghaziabad- 22.4%
Gautam Buddha Nagar- 24.2%
Vote turnout till 11 am
27% voting in Meghalaya
22.84% voting in Telangana
23.78% in Uttarakhand
23.10% in Lakshadweep
13.7% in Maharashtra
24.66% in Jammu & Baramulla parliamentary constituencies
38.08% in West Bengal
26.5% in Tripura
After violence errupted in various polling booths of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a letter to Chief Election commission sought repolling at some stations.
" Likely that many voters who returned may not come back for voting even if polling is resumed after replacement/repair of existing EVMs.Therefore repolling needed in all polling stations where polling had not commenced upto 9.30am," he said.
Voting Per cent between 7 to 9 am in Maharashtra
Nagpur -9.33
Ramtek - 4.9
Gadchiroli -8.5
Yavatmal-Washim -5.03
Wardha -7.32
Chandrapur -2.95
A Woman walks out after casting her vote at Kaila Bhatta in Ghaziabad, Western Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. Express Photo by Praveen Khanna
An 11.43 per cent electorate cast their vote during the first two hours beginning 7 am during the first phase of polling in Jammu and Baramulla parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Jammu, the highest polling till 9 an was recorded in Samba district (16.52 per cent), followed by Jammu (14.12), Poonch (12.98) and Rajouri (11.88) .
In Baramulla constituency, it was Kashmiri Pandit migrants (10.24 per cent), followed by Kupwara (7.98), Bandipora (5.97), and. Baramulla (5.80).
Union minister Nitin Gadkari casts vote along with family. Before going to the polling station, he and wife Kanchan performed puja at home. Later speaking to the media after casting vote he said he would win by a greater margin this time than in 2014.
Source: ANI
Voters from across 20 states are voting in 91 constituencies in the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections. See Pictures
Assam Phase 1 voting till 9 am
Tezpur 10%
Kaliabor 10%
Lakhimpur 9%
Dibrugarh 10%
Jorhat 12%
Average 10.2%
Voter turnout in UP contituencies till 9 am
Saharanpur- 13.08 %
Kairana- 11.00%
Muzaffarnagar- 12.00%
Bijnor- 11.40%
Gautam Buddha Nagar- 10.70%
Ghaziabad- 12.00%
Meerut- 11.00%
Baghpat- 10.19%
Voting in Manipur peaceful so far. 16.09 per cent voting recorded till 9 am.
Attacking the BJP government for Jobs and demonetisation, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on tweet urged people to vote wisely.
According to local media reports in Andhra Pradesh, Janasena MLA candidate Madhusudhan Gupta was detained for allegedly damaging EVM machines. He threw the EVM machine on the floor because candidates names weren't displayed properly in Andhra's Anantapur district.
In Gautam Buddha Nagar Lok Sabha Seat, Noida Vidhan Sabha registers 9.5 per cent voting while Jewar Vidhan Sabha registers 12.6 per cent voting by 9 am.