LIVE | 'Every Voice Counts': PM Modi Urges Young And First-Time Voters to Come Out in Huge Numbers

In 2019, BJP had won Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri with handsome margins. This time around, Mamata Banerjee's TMC had gone out all guns blazing, eyeing the dominant tribal population in the region.

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“The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters!"

Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 that begin the first phase on April 19, cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar posted about casting his vote. "Let us put everything aside and prioritise the most important task: voting. It is our chance to make a difference and score big for our country. My Vote, My Duty!
@ECISVEEP . #ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #LokSabhaElections2024 ," he posted on X.

"150 polling stations in district will be managed by all women (team)," said Sonitpur Additional District Commissioner.

Congress will hold a day-long meeting in Shimla tomorrow to discuss poll strategies for Mandi. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will be presiding over the meeting.

India goes to polls tomorrow, as the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 begins.

Congress leader Vikas Agrahari has refuted reports of having left the Congress and joined the BJP. He met BJP leader Smriti Irani to have some issues addressed, he said.?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has denied claims that said four electronic voting machines (EVMs) were recording one extra vote for the BJP during a mock poll in Kerala.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has announced three candidates from Haryana for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The following names and constituencies feature in the list:

Kurukshetra - Abhay Chautala?

Hisar - Sunaina Chautala?

Ambala - Gurpreet Singh.

Vikramaditya Singh, Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister and Congress candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat has slammed the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi, actress Kangana Ranaut. While referring to her presence in Mandi, Singh said Ranaut was like a frog, which comes out during rainy season.

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Three-term Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule and her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar on Thursday filed their nominations for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra’s Pune district on the NCP (SP) and NCP tickets, respectively. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, husband of Sunetra Pawar, also filed a set nomination papers for the seat, which an NCP functionary described as a back-up plan in case Sunetra Pawar’s nomination does not stand scrutiny or any discrepancy is found in it. Polling in Baramati, the pocket borough of Pawars, will be held on May 7.

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BJP national president JP Nadda addressed a poll meeting in Assam's Darrang today. "PM Modi's govt means pro-active, pro-responsive govt. He has changed the definition, character and the way politics run in the country. Earlier, the mindset was- that things would go like this only, nothing would change, Bodoland movement would continue. But, due to PM Modi's vision and HM Amit Shah's work, today Assam is having the development... I am happy that the biggest cancer care centre in South Asia will be here in Assam..." he said.?

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"Today's election is not for electricity, water and road, but this election is for the attack that was made on Jammu and Kashmir's identity. and the employment of youths post 2019. Our lands and power projects are being snatched from us and an attempt has been made to make us bonded labour..." said PDP chief and Anantnag Lok Sabha candidate Mehbooba Mufti.?

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?PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday filed nomination papers from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir which is going to polls in the third phase of elections on May 7.

Accompanied by several party leaders and hundreds of supporters, Mehbooba arrived at the office of Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Syed Fakhruddin, who is the returning officer for the constituency, to file her papers.

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National Conference leader Mian Altaf Ahmad on Thursday filed nomination papers for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat as the candidate of the opposition INDIA bloc.

Accompanied by NC vice president Omar Abdullah and Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Ahmad filed the nomination papers before Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Syed Fakhruddin, who is the returning officer of the constituency.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's wife and NCP candidate from Baramati, Sunetra Pawar filed her nomination papers at the Divisional Commissioner's office. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, NCP leader Praful Patel and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale were present.?

This is the last election in which you are going to vote so cast your vote very carefully, said Mamata Banerjee during Raiganj rally.?

Congress state co-coordinator Vikas Agrahari joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi ?Lok Sabha Constituency, Smriti Irani, on Thursday.?

NCP-SCP sitting MP and candidate from Baramati, Supriya Sule files her nomination papers.

Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has been fielded by NCP against NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule from Baramati.

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal will participate in the INDI alliance rally to be held on April 21 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP MP Sanjay Singh will also participate in this rally of the INDI alliance.?

BJP on Thursday announced Union Minister Narayan Rane as its candidate from Ratnagiri Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat.?

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After a migrant labourer from Bihar was shot dead by terrorists in J&K's Anantnag, RJD leader and candidate from Saran Lok Sabha seat Rohini Acharya said, "A compensation should be provided by the government. We will also raise our voices for this..."?

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"The people of the INDI alliance, especially the senior leaders of the Samajwadi Party, have attacked Sanātana Dharma, I condemn it. When voices were raised against Sanātana Dharma from the South, Uttar Pradesh or from any corner of the country, these people did not even once take a stand in favour of Sanatana Dharma...'' said Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak.?

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Aam Aadmi Party had announced candidates for Mayor elections.?

"This year the Mayor is to be elected from the reserved category. This time the Mayor candidate from AAP will be Mahesh Khichi. He is a councillor from Dev Nagar Ward-84 of Karol Bagh." Election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Delhi will be held on 26th April, 2024.

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Preparations are going on at Gujarat's Gandhinagar as Union Home Minister And BJP leader Amit Shah will be holding a roadshow in the city today. Polling on all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat is scheduled to be held in a single phase on May 7.?
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Former Kannauj Panchayat President Sanju Katiyar joined the BJP on Thursday in presence of UP Deputy CM and BJP leader Brajesh Pathak in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.?

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Election Commission has instructed to install GPS in all vehicles that will carry the EVMs.?

"We have also installed GPS in the cars of section officers because the EVMs will be transferred to their vehicles in case of any breakdown. We will supervise the movements of the EVMs. Appropriate action will be taken in case of doubtful movements," says Nagaon District Deputy Commissioner Narendra Shah.?

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that in future Congress leader Rahul Gandhi might have to contest an election from some place across the oceans, as he would not find a safe seat in the country.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday after campaigning for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections ended, Yadav said Wayanad MP Gandhi could not save his Amethi seat in north India last time.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a roadshow in his home turf- Gandhinagar, today before filing his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Friday.?

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar along with his wife and NCP candidate from Baramati, Sunetra Pawar offered prayers at Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple, in Pune, ahead of filing her nomination papers.?

“Today is a big day for me. I am going to file my nomination today. So we came here, offered prayers and took blessings,” said Pawar.?

Mahayuti alliance candidate Sunetra Pawar and her sister-in-law and NCP (SP) candidate Supriya Sule would file their nominations for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in the district on Thursday with a show of strength.

Along with Sule, her party's Shirur ?candidate Dr Amol Kolhe and the Congress' Pune Lok Sabha constituency candidate Ravindra Dhangekar will also file their papers.

The Gazette notification has been issued for the 4th phase of general elections. Polling will take place for 96 Lok Sabha seats across 10 states Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir. Voting for the 4th phase will be conducted on May 13 from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday, April 18, campaigned in Silchar ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.?