Polling for the first phase of the highly anticipated Lok Sabha elections 2024 was held on April 19, marking the beginning of the world’s largest electoral exercise. With 102 seats up for grabs across 21 states and union territories in the inaugural phase, citizens exercise their democratic right to choose their representatives. The electoral battle featured prominent figures such as Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Kiren Rijiju, Sarbananda Sonowal, Jitendra Singh, and Bhupender Yadav, along with contenders like Gaurav Gogoi from the Congress, Kanimozhi from DMK, and K Annamalai, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief. Opposition leaders and parties have faced a slew of legal and financial challenges in the run-up to this year’s election, with many accusing the BJP of using state agencies to stifle and attack its opponents.
The southern region, with 39 seats from Tamil Nadu and one from Puducherry, dominated the first phase of polling. Apart from Tamil Nadu, voting is now concluded in various other states, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Assam etc. The second phase of the seven-phased elections will be held on April 26 in which 89 seats across 13 states and UTs will go to polls. Among the most politically important states is Uttar Pradesh, home to 240 million people who vote in all seven phases. India’s largest state is a crucial battleground with 80 seats in the Lok Sabha up for grabs. The results will be declared on June 4.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers. In the lead-up to elections, political parties have always relied on catchy slogans to rally support. The BJP and its allies have been echoing the mantra of ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar’, aiming to secure a resounding victory. Modi has set an ambitious target to secure a 400-seat supermajority, with 370 directly controlled by his BJP – up from 303 in 2019 – and the others from its National Democratic Alliance. It is considered among the most consequential votes in decades, with Modi’s powerful right-wing BJP seeking an outright majority in the lower house of parliament, or Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are leaving no stone unturned to counter the ruling party with their own compelling slogans. Across the country, from bustling cities to remote villages, these slogans play a pivotal role in shaping public sentiment and influencing electoral outcomes. Indeed, they have often served as a powerful tool in overthrowing the incumbent governments. In a bid to unseat Modi, the Congress last year joined hands with a number of regional parties to form the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, known as INDIA. But that alliance has started to see cracks emerge with a number of detractions to the BJP. It has also yet to put forward a candidate for prime minister. Will INDIA bloc succeed? The answer lies in the ballots.
