15th LS elections kicks off in 1st phase

The 15th Lok Sabha elections begins this morning as a total of 15 States and two Union Territories are in the fray for polls in the first phase. Over 143.1 million eligible voters will express their franchise to elect their representatives to the parliament.

Security has been tightened in all the naxal-affected polling states including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa. Heavy security, including paramilitary forces, has been deployed for smooth conduct of polls.

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.

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.

Along with the total 124 parliamentary constituencies, 154 of the total 294 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and 70 (147) in Orissa went for polls in the first phase.

The general polling time is scheduled between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. But it will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the North-East and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the insurgency-ridden areas.

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.