High-octane campaign ends for opening phase
A high-octane campaign for the first and largest phase of the Lok Sabha elections closed on Wednesday with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) facing off against a vast swathe of constituencies across India, two days before the world’s largest democratic exercise kicked off.
A total of 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union territories will vote on Friday to determine the fates of 1,625 candidates.
The first phase of the polls saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi lead the campaign for the NDA, which is aiming to win 400 Lok Sabha seats in the sevenphase polls. He addressed 40 rallies across more than a dozen states, underlining his government’s Viksit Bharat (developed India) pitch, infrastructure push and ideological goals such as the abrogation of Article 370 and construction of the Ram Temple.
He also lambasted the Opposition over dynasty politics, eating meat during a month considered holy by some Hindus, and misleading the public on the plans to alter the Constitution. He spent a majority of his time in the south and the east, where critical battles in Bihar, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu will likely determine if the BJP is able to reach its goal of 370 seats.
“A new atmosphere is prevailing in the entire country as we celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Ram in his own home after 500 years and this is a culmination of centuries of devotion and generations of sacrifice,” he said at a rally in Assam, where five seats go to the polls.
The INDIA response was led by a patchwork group of leaders ranging from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin. They questioned the government on unemployment and depressed wages, alleged that democracy was under threat and highlighted the incarceration of two sitting CMs – Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren.
“Sometimes they will scare you and give you bundles of money. Why are you afraid every day? Who will you be afraid of? If Modi somehow wins, there will be no democracy in the country. Who will save the country?” Banerjee asked in a rally.
The first phase will see all seats from Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep and Puducherry go to the polls.