Ahead of the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public gathering in Maharashtra's Nanded. PM Modi, who is currently on a visit to Maharashtra for election campaigning, is campaigning for Mahayuti's candidates from the parliamentary seat of Nanded Prataprao Patil Chikhlikar.
Speaking at the gathering, PM Modi said, "Yesterday, the first phase of polling concluded. I congratulate & express my gratitude to all those who cast their vote and especially the first-time voters. After the polling concluded, the analysis that was done on the booth level and the information that was received confirms that in the first phase, there has been one-sided voting for NDA."
Further, taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said, like Amethi, Congress will lose its ground from Wayanad also. He said, "Congress ke shehzade unhe bhi Wayanad mein sankat dikh raha hai. Shehzade aur unki toli April 26 ko Wayanad mein voting ka intezaar kar rahe hain...Jaise Amethi se bhagna pada, aap maan ke chaliye wo Wayanad bhi chodenge."
Significantly, from Nanded, PM Modi will then travel to Maharashtra's Parbhani. The PM had earlier addressed a public meeting in Maharashtra's Wardha district on Friday.
Later, from Maharashtra, PM Modi will then travel to Karnataka for the election rallies scheduled in Bengaluru and Chikkaballapur. It is pertinent to note that this is PM Modi's third visit to Karnataka this election season.
Moreover, at the rally in Palace Grounds today, Modi will campaign for the party candidates in Bengaluru's North, Central, South, and Rural seats. MoS (agriculture) Shobha Karandlaje is contesting from Bengaluru North, while well-known cardiologist Dr. CN Manjunath will be contesting from Bengaluru Rural.
It is pertinent to note that both of the seats in Maharashtra (Nanded and Parbhani) and Karnataka (Bengaluru and Chikkaballapur) will go on polls during the second phase of elections.
Voter turnout crosses 60 percent
Meanwhile, PM Modi earlier on Friday thanked the voters for their wide response during the first phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024. In a social media post, PM Modi wrote, "First phase, great response! Thank you to all those who have voted today. I'm getting excellent feedback from today's voting. It's clear that people across India are voting for the NDA in record numbers."
According to the Election Commission of India, over 60% of voter turnout was recorded until 7 p.m. during the first phase of the elections held across 102 Lok Sabha constituencies and 92 Assembly constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, where state legislature polls were held simultaneously on Friday. It is pertinent to note that the figure is tentative and is likely to change.
In a statement released on the voting turnout percentage during the first phase of elections, the Election Commission of India said,
"Polling for the first phase of general elections in 2024 recorded high voter turnout despite the heat wave. Polling remains largely peaceful, with voters from various walks of life participating enthusiastically in a dazzling display of civic responsibility and pride. In the first round of the 2024 general elections, polling has been completed for 10 states and UTs to elect the 18th Lok Sabha, along with polling for the state legislative assemblies of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The Commission thanked voters of Phase 1 and the entire election machinery."
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