Campaigning ends for first phase of Lok Sabha polls; 48-hour silence period begins

Campaigning ends for first phase of Lok Sabha polls; 48-hour silence period begins

NEW DELHI: The high-octane campaigning for the first and the biggest phase of 2024 Lok Sabha elections came to an end at 5pm on Wednesday with the commencement of a 48-hour silence period.

The first phase which is scheduled for April 19, will witness polling in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories.

While PM Modi chose to continue his onslaught on Congress in Assam on the last day of campaigning, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi held a roadshow in UP’s Saharanpur in support of INDIA bloc candidate Imran Masood.

Key constituencies to contest in the first phase

Udhampur parliamentary constituency in Jammu and Kashmir is all set to witness its first poll battle since the abrogation of Article 370.

It will decide the destiny of 12 candidates, including Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is seeking a third term and faces a strong challenge from Congress contender Choudhary Lal Singh.

Maoists affected Bastar witnessed a high-voltage campaign with the constituency going to polls in the first phase. Promises of ending “Naxal violence” dominated public platforms a day after 29 Maoists were killed in an encounter in the city.

Other key constituencies to go to polls in the first phase

• Uttar Pradesh – Saharanpur, Rampur, Pilibhit, Muzzafarnagar
• Assam – Dibrugarh, Sonitpur
• Bihar – Jamui, Gaya
• Madhya Pradesh – Chhindwara
• Tamil Nadu – Chennai North, Chennai South, Chennai Central, Coimbatore, Thoothukkudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari
• Manipur- Inner Manipur, Outer Manipur
• Rajasthan – Bikaner
• West Bengal – Coochbehar, Alipurduars

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‘Second freedom movement’: Tamil Nadu to go to polls on all seats in phase 1

All 39 seats of the southern state of Tamil Nadu are scheduled to go to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19.

Describing the upcoming elections as “second freedom movement”, CM M K Stalin concluded the high-voltage electioneering along with leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami with roadshows.

In a bid to woo the voters, PM Modi led the poll campaign in white shirt and veshti (dhoti) in Tamil Nadu which remains a stronghold for regional parties since 1967, with no national party able to establish a strong presence.

Key candidates to contest in the first phase

• Chirag Paswan (Lok Janshakti Party chief) – Jamui
• Nakul Nath (son of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath) – Chhindwara
• K Annamalai (Tamil Nadu BJP chief) – Coimbatore
• Tamilisai Soundararajan (former Governor of Telangana) – Chennai South
• Kanimozhi Karunanidhi – Thoothukkudi
• Jitin Prasada (He has been fielded by the BJP in place of Varun Gandhi) – Pilibhit
• Nisith Pramanik – Coochbehar

The Lok Sabha polls are set to unfold in seven stages over a 44-day period. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

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