Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 1: Fervour for defending their rights; a recently wed couple votes

A newlywed couple, dressed in their wedding attire, posed outside a government school in Pauri Garhwal that had been converted into a polling place after they had exercised their right to vote. Everyone’s eagerness to take part in the electoral process for efficient governance demonstrates the country’s dedication to democracy.

Meanwhile in Uttarakhand, a remarkable coincidence occurred at a polling booth in Dehradun, where three generations cast their votes together. A grandmother, her daughter, and her two granddaughters ventured out for a family outing in Dehradun this morning, all intent on casting their votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which commenced today across 102 constituencies spanning 21 states and union territories.

A photo shared by the news agency ANI depicted Prabha Sharma, the grandmother, and her daughter, Preeti Kaushik, standing beside their granddaughters and daughters, Shamita and Sakshi Kaushik, all proudly displaying their inked fingers as proof of voting.

All five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand are up for grabs today. In the 2019 election, the BJP swept all five seats and also secured victory in the Assembly election last year, decisively defeating the Congress. Although the saffron party clinched 47 of the 70 Assembly seats, a slightly reduced count compared to the previous election, it remained an impressive feat.

The Garhwal constituency has remained under BJP control since 2014, initially won by BC Khanduri and then by Tirath Singh Rawat in 2019. This time, Anil Baluni carries the BJP banner, competing against the Congress’ Ganesh Godiyal.