First phase Lok Sabha polls tomorrow

The first phase of the 15th Lok Sabha elections will be held Thursday (April 16) amid tight security in a total of 124 constituencies, covering 15 States and two Union territories. Canvassing for the poll ended on Tuesday evening as per the election code of conduct.

Polling will be held for the 13 out of 40 seats in Bihar, Maharashtra 13 (48), Andhra Pradesh 22 (42), Orissa 10 (21), Assam 3 (14), Jammu and Kashmir 1 (6), Arunachal Pradesh 2 (2), Jharkhand 6 (14), Uttar Pradesh 16 (80), while all 20 seats of Kerala, 11 in Chhattisgarh and two in Meghalaya would go for poll in a single phase on Thursday.

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A total of 1,715 candidates, including 122 women, are in the fray for 124 seats in the first of the five-phased election. The Election Commission has calculated as many as 14.31 crore eligible voters for the first phase.

Among the prominent political figure who will vie for their seats are: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav (Saran, Bihar), former HRD minister and BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh), Minister for women and child welfare Renuka Chaudhry (Khammam, Andhra Pradesh), Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel (Gondiya, Maharashtra), BJP’s Yashwant Sinha (Hazaribagh, Jharkhand), Shashi Tharoor (Thiruvananthapuram on a Congress ticket).

People of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Mizoram and Nagaland would also exercise their franchise for the loan seats in the first phase.

Along with the Lok Sabha elections, voting for the 154 seats for the 294 Andhra Pradesh Assembly and 70 out of 147 Assembly constituencies in Orissa will also be held simultaneously.

Central paramilitary forces and other security forces have been deployed at all the 1.85 lakh polling stations. State borders have been sealed to prevent movement of criminal elements and liquor.

Other phases of Lok Sabha polls are due on April 23, 30 and May 7 and 13. The counting of votes will take place on May 16 and new government will be constituted before June 2.