"It is the public that is fighting for us and it is not just us. People are supporting the ideology that we follow and are fighting for us. The BJP will lag and we will move forward," he said. 

More than a thousand policemen from Mizoram faced challenges in voting during the Lok Sabha polls on April 19, as revealed by state election officials.

The Indian stock market historically experiences volatility around Lok Sabha elections. In 2014 and 2019, it saw initial surges, followed by fluctuations during voting periods, and eventual gains post-elections. Similar trends are observed in 2024, with Nifty and Sensex fluctuating within specific ranges before the results.

"The polls are going out of his hands. He is slipping and he will not be India's prime minister. He has decided to divert your attention in the next four to five days and do some kind of drama. But your attention should not be diverted," he said.

"Women from humble backgrounds rising high in politics and carving a niche for themselves is still a big challenge in the country and Himachal Pradesh is no exception. At present, women constitute about 49 per cent of the total voters in the state but representation is not even one-fourth and this is a cause of serious concern." 

At the time of the elections, thousands of workers of the VHP will go to the booth level and not only make the people aware to vote but will also make them aware that voting is in the interest of the nation, he added. 

Congress candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency Sucharita Mohanty has declined to contest the elections and returned the party ticket alleging lack of funding from the party.

In the affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers for the Hinjili assembly segment, Patnaik disclosed movable assets exceeding Rs 14.05 crore and immovable properties valued at Rs 57.02 crore.

"Our community probably has the highest voting percentage, nearly 99%. We take our responsibility very seriously. You don't get to see that because most of our votes are counted as male. But trust me, we are all aware that voting is a powerful opportunity for us," said Kumbar, pulling out the voter identity card that establishes her as male. 

Voters turned up before the commencement of the polls at most of the booths, official sources said. 

Polling for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections commenced early on Friday across five constituencies in Maharashtra. Over 95 lakh voters are set to cast their votes in this crucial electoral bout, which includes prominent seats like Nagpur, where Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is contesting.

Uttar Pradesh, a key battleground state with the highest number of parliamentary seats in India, is gearing up for the first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections scheduled for this Friday.