NEW DELHI: The world’s largest democratic exercise got underway in India with voters exercising their franchise on Friday to elect 543 members of Parliament in a seven-phased election that is unparalleled in terms of its scale and logistics and covers every voter of the vast and diverse country. The first phase of voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections began today in 21 states and Union territories. 

By 10 am voter turnout percentages varied across states participating in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections with states like West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh leading the voter turnout charts.

According to the data released by the Election Commission of India, West Bengal saw a 15.09 per cent voter turnout while Madhya Pradesh recorded a 15 per cent till 9 am.

Seats in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry go to polls today.

More than 16.63 crore voters, which include over 8 crore men and women each, will cast their vote at nearly 2 lakh polling stations. Voters in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will also elect their assemblies. Voting begins at 7 and will end at 6 pm. 

Political parties held hectic campaign in the run up to the first phase of poll with the BJP-led  NDA seeking a third consecutive term in office under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition INDIA bloc is seeking to oust the BJP from power. Election Commission has made elaborate security and other arrangements for the polls.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Bhupendra Yadav, Kiren Rijiju, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Sarbananda Sonowal are in the fray in the first phase. Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi, DMK’s Kanimozhi and BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai are also contesting the polls today.