Lok Sabha polls 2024: As world's biggest election ends, here's how India voted

Voting has ended in India’s second longest election.

Saturday saw the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections being held.

Covering 57 constituencies, it witnessed major names like Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fray.

The earlier phases, held on 19 April, 26 April, 7 May, 13 May, 20 May and 25 May, saw pundits raise concerns about turnout even as many voters braved the elements.

Union Minister for Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju sounded the alarm prior to the polls.

“It is going to be very challenging for all of us. Since we are the most populous country in the world and face extreme weather conditions, it makes it absolutely necessary for India to prepare in advance,” Rijiju said.

Votes are set to be counted on 4 June.

Let’s take a closer look at how it unfolded

Phase 1

The first phase of Lok Sabha elections was held on 19 April.

Polling was held in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union territories – the highest number of constituencies in any phase.

Voting was held in all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu, 12 in Rajasthan, eight in Uttar Pradesh, six in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Uttarakhand, Assam and Maharashtra, four in Bihar, three in West Bengal, two each in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and one each in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

Many big names including Union minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Congress’ Kamal Nath and DMK’s sitting MP Kanimozhi tested their fortunes.

The Election Commission had deployed over 18 lakh polling personnel across 1.87 lakh polling stations.

Over 16.63 crore people were eligible to vote in this phase with 35.67 lakh first-time voters and 3.51 crore young voters in the 20 to 29 age group.

Despite strict security, violence disrupted the first phase of voting in West Bengal, Manipur, and Chhattisgarh.

The Trinamool Congress and the BJP clashed and lodged 80 and 39 complaints against each other related to poll violence, voter intimidation, and assaults on poll agents, sources from both parties said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that TMC workers had injured the booth president of the saffron party by hurling stones in the Chandamari area of Cooch Behar.

They claimed that the purpose of the stone-throwing was to deter voters from exercising their right to vote.

The polling process was disrupted by reports of firing incidents, attempts to capture booths, and damage to electronic voting machines at several polling stations in Manipur.

Reports claimed that a few individuals were hurt in these incidents.

In Thamanpokpi, which is in the Moirang Assembly segment, armed men opened fire on a voting place multiple times. Authorities quickly increased the area’s security measures after reports of three injuries, as per The Hindu.

According to NDTV, a 25-second viral video showeds chaos and shouting before two rapid-fire rounds are heard. Then there’s a third shot, probably in reaction to the previous two. Following that, there is a barrage of gunfire and the person who is recording the video hides behind a doorway. Ten seconds pass during this fast-paced exchange of gunfire before it ends.

The first phase of the poll recorded a voter turnout of 66.14 per cent.

The Election Commission (EC) described the turnout as “high”, noting that the voting remained “largely peaceful.”

The poll panel said in phase one of the elections, 66.22 per cent of male and 66.07 female electors turned up to vote.

The turnout for registered third-gender voters stood at 31.32 per cent.

Phase 2

The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, held on 26 April, saw as many as 88 constituencies from 13 states and Union Territories go to the polls.

Voting was held in all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, eight seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, six seats in Madhya Pradesh, five seats each in Assam and Bihar, three seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir

Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP’s Tejasvi Surya, actor-turned politicians Hema Malini and Arun Govil and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor were some of the big names in the fray.

Over 15.88 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise across 1.67 lakh polling stations. A total of 1,202 candidates were in fray.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had urged voters to come out and vote to ‘protect democracy from the clutches of dictatorship.’

Kharge had claimed this is not an ordinary election and urged voters not to be swayed by any diversionary tactics.

He said the Constitution should reverberate in their hearts before they vote.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged citizens to become a soldier of the Constitution and vote to protect democracy.

Indian cricket coach Rahul Dravid, one of the early voters in phase 2, urged the public to come out in large numbers.

“All the security arrangements are in place. Let’s make sure that we come out in huge numbers and vote, let’s set a record this time for voting in Bengaluru. I especially request the youths and people to come out in large numbers and exercise their votes,” Dravid said.

Phase 2 witnessed a 66.71 per cent turnout – marginally higher than the first phase.

Compared to the voter participation in the past, this is “among the best” but “somewhat lags” behind the high benchmarks of the 2019 general elections, the poll panel said.

The Election Commission also came under scanner over the delay in releasing the voter turnout data.

The Opposition, which raised concerns, noted a 5.75 per cent rise in the final numbers compared to the provisional figures shared on polling days.

Phase 3

Voting in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls was held on 7 May.

All 25 of 26 constituencies of Gujarat, 14 seats in Karnataka, 11 seats in Maharashtra, 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, nine seats in Madhya Pradesh, seven seats in Chhattisgarh, five seats in Bihar, four seats each in Assam and West Bengal, two seats in Goa, and one seat each in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu went to the polls.

In the third phase, 17.24 crore citizens, including 8.85 crore men and 8.39 crore women, were eligible to vote.

Home minister Amit Shah and Supriya Sule were some of the major candidates in the fray.

Actor Shekhar Suman joined the BJP on the eve of the third phase – giving the party a major boost.

Radhika Khera, the national coordinator of the Congress media department, also joined the BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 4 June, the date of counting of votes, would be the INDIA bloc’s “expiry date.”

Speaking at a rally in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar, Modi said that the ongoing Lok Sabha elections are a contest between “santushtikaran (satisfaction)” and “tushtikaran (appeasement)”.

“The expiry date of INDI Alliance has been set. There will be no one left to pick up the pieces of INDI Alliance after June 4. The parties that came together before elections will fall apart like a sand dune after June 4. Friends, this election is being contested between ‘santushtikaran (satisfaction)’ and ‘tushtikaran (appeasement)’. The BJP and the entire NDA is doing everything to satisfy Indians,” Modi said.

Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, vowed to do away with reservation.

“They want to destroy reservation. I am guaranteeing you that we will tear apart and throw away this 50 per cent limit on reservation. We will take reservation beyond 50 per cent. Everyone will benefit from it,” Rahul said.

The voter turnout for the third phase of the polls was 65.68 per cent, according to the Election Commission.

The EC said 66.89 per cent of men, 64.4 per cent of women and 25.2 per cent of the registered transgender voters turned up at polling stations.

Phase 4

The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls were held on 13 May.

Voting was held in 96 parliamentary constituencies spread across nine states and one Union Territory.

1,717 candidates were in the fray as 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, all 17 seats in Telangana, 13 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Maharashtra, eight each in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, five in Bihar, four each in Jharkhand and Odisha and one in Jammu and Kashmir went to the polls.

This was Kashmir’s first significant election following the repeal of Article 370 in August 2019.

More than 19 lakh poll workers were deployed at 1.92 lakh polling places.

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi were some of the big names whose fates were up for grabs.

Andhra Pradesh saw polling marred by violence in three districts after a brawl between members of the ruling YSR Congress and the Telugu Desam Party interrupted voting at a booth.

Rubber bullets were used by the police to disperse the throng at the Narasaravu Pet Municipal High School polling place in the Palnadu district.

According to sources, YSRCP supporters allegedly prevented TDP activists from entering the voting place, which resulted in violence.

Chadalavada Aravind Babu, the TDP’s candidate for MLA, was allegedly attacked during the altercation, and TDP supporters’ cars sustained damage. Each side held the other responsible for the violence.

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said that elections in the single seat of Srinagar during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections were happening peacefully.

“By the grace of God, voting is happening without any coercion. I think this is the first victory of democracy…We too stepped out to vote, there is no pressure on anyone. I appeal to everyone to cast the vote,” Bukhari said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Bihar’s Saran said, “This election is to increase India’s stature in the world. This election is to increase the country’s credibility, prestige and status, and for which every Indian feels proud.”

The fourth phase recorded a turnout of 69.16 per cent – the highest of all the phases thus far.

The EC in a statement urged the electorate to come out and vote in large numbers.

“The Commission strongly believes that partnership and collaboration are essential pillars of voter awareness programme. It’s really heartening to see that on Commission’s request, different institutions, influencers and celebrities having significant reach are working enthusiastically on pro-bono basis,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said.

Phase 5

The fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls was held on 20 May.

The fifth phase of the elections six eight states and two Union Territories (UTs) and covered 49 constituencies.

Fourteen out of the 80 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh, 13 in Maharashtra, seven in West Bengal, five each in Bihar and Odisha, three in Jharkhand and one each in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh went to polls.

Over 8.95 crore people, including 4.69 crore men, 4.26 crore women and 5409 third gender were eligible to vote in this phase.

The fate of 695 candidates including defence minister Rajnath Singh, contesting from the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat, and the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi in Rae Bareli were up for grabs.

Politicians, sportspersons and prominent persons from the financial sector exercised their franchise at polling booths in different parts of Mumbai and neighbouring Thane district in the fifth and final phase of the general elections in Maharashtra.

Popular Bollywood cinema stars Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, Farhan Akhtar and Tabu were among the celebrities who stepped out to exercise their right to vote for Lok Sabha Election 2024, in Mumbai.

Mumbai recorded a turnout of 52.27 percent in the general elections amid sultry weather and complaints of delays in the polling process.

The constituency of Mumbai South, home to industrialists as well as high-ranking government officials, fared the worst with 47.7 percent voting.

Voters at many polling booths complained that they had to wait for more than an hour in the line to cast the vote.

A voter in Bimbisar Nagar in Goregaon East said, “I came to vote around noon, but it took nearly one and a half hours. I am a senior citizen and still came to vote, but it took longer than it had taken in 2019.” “

High levels of humidity and a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius added to the voters’ discomfort.

Former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed that many people had to return from the polling stations without casting their votes after waiting for a long time due to the slow pace of voting.

“I have seen that voters are going in huge numbers at the voting centre but due to inconvenience they had to go back. A lot of time is being taken inside so that they are not able to vote. I request all the voters that even if it takes time please go to the voting centres and cast your vote,” he told the media.

Scattered incidents of violence marred the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls in seven parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal on  as TMC and BJP workers clashed in various parts of Barrackpore, Bongaon, and Arambagh seats.

The fifth phase saw a turnout of 62.2 per cent, according to the Election Commission.

The EC said 61.48 per cent of the registered male voters turned up at the polling stations as compared to 63 per cent of female electors.

Phase 6

The sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls was held on 25 May.

Fifty-seven constituencies across eight states and Union Territories went to the polls.

All seven seats in Delhi, all 10 in Haryana, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, eight each in Bihar and West Bengal, six in Odisha, four in Jharkhand, and one in Jammu and Kashmir voted in the sixth phase.

This penultimate phase decided the fate of 889 candidates.

The BJP’s Manoj Tiwari, the sitting MP from North East Delhi trying to retain his seat for a third time, and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti were some of the big names in the fray.

According to the Election Commission of India, around 11.13 crore individuals wre eligible to vote in this phase of voting.

Polling took place at  at 1.14 lakh polling places spread over 58 seats.

Around 5.84 crore men, 5.29 crore women, and 5120 electors of the third gender in total were eligible to vote.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the public to vote in large numbers.

“Every vote counts, make yours count too! Democracy thrives when its people are engaged and active in the electoral process. specially urge women voters and youth voters to vote in large numbers,” Modi wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri expressed confidence about the BJP’s chances.

“There is a sentiment for ‘400 paar’ and there is no difficulty in crossing 400 seats…We’ve 37 allies and we will easily cross 400 seats. Shashi Tharoor should worry about his seat and the seats of the Congress Party,” Puri said.

Among the voters was Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, who said that he has fulfilled his duty as a citizen by casting his vote.

According to the Election Commission, the sixth phase witnessed a turnout of 63.37 per cent

Phase 7

Phase 7 witnessed 57 Lok Sabha seats go to the polls.

Constituencies in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab and Union territory of Chandigarh voted in the final round to elect the 18th Lok Sabha.

Polling occurred in all 13 seats of Punjab, in four seats in Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three seats in Jharkhand as well as Chandigarh.

Polling also took place for 42 Assembly constituencies in Odisha and bypolls to six Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh.

Prime Minister Modi, who is seeking his third straight term from Varanasi, was up against six opponents.

Of the 904 contestants in the fray, Union minister Anurag Thakur, Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee, Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti and actor Kangana Ranaut were some of the other notables in the fray.

At the end of the last phase of voting, a provisional voter turnout of 59.5 per cent was recorded. As per data available, Bihar recorded the lowest voter turnout of over 50.9 per cent while Jharkhand recorded the highest at 70 per cent.

With inputs from agencies