pic.twitter.com/WbJeL4PN3M — ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024Another couple in Rajasthan’s Sikar were seen heading to a polling booth to cast their votes, shortly after getting married today morning.
VIDEO | Dheeraj Soni and Pooja Soni cast their votes in Rajasthan’s Sikar this morning, shortly after getting married.
Despite these challenges, more than 35 per cent of the eligible voters in the village cast their votes at two polling booths by the afternoon, PTI reported.
A historic moment unfolds as the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar casts their votes for the first time in #GeneralElections2024.
Singh has also demanded action against officials allegedly involved in the “conspiracy to jeopardize the life” of Kejriwal.
As the first phase of polling kicked off Friday, social media has been abuzz with videos of newly-wedded couples heading straight to polling stations, political leaders trying to outwit their rivals and the Election Commission spreading voter awareness. Here, we take a look at everything that is trending today:
Several videos are being circulated wherein newly-wedded couples across the length and breadth of the country were seen casting their votes and posing with their inked fingers, leaving aside the wedding festivities.
A bride in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur said the wedding ceremony took place on Thursday, and today after the farewell rituals, she told her husband that “we must cast our votes.” She added that she would convey to everyone that they must not waste their votes.
#WATCH | Udhampur, J&K: As the first phase of #LokSabhaElections2024 is underway, after the wedding newly married couple heads straight to vote as they exercise their franchise. pic.twitter.com/WbJeL4PN3M — ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2024
Another couple in Rajasthan’s Sikar were seen heading to a polling booth to cast their votes, shortly after getting married today morning.
VIDEO | Dheeraj Soni and Pooja Soni cast their votes in Rajasthan’s Sikar this morning, shortly after getting married. The couple exercised their franchise at the Sir Madhav Higher Primary School.#LSPolls2024WithPTI #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/OWaacf7tNc — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 19, 2024
In Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar, a bride-to-be was captured casting her vote before her wedding.
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Voters of ‘silent village’ cast ballots for basic amenities
The residents of Dhadkahi, known as the “silent village” in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district due to its large deaf-and-dumb population, exercised their franchise in the Lok Sabha polls on Friday in the hope of getting basic amenities, such as roads, water, healthcare facilities and education.
News agency PTI shared a video of three mute sisters eagerly waiting to cast their votes for the first time, thereby becoming an inspiration to other villagers.
VIDEO | Three mute sisters, 24-year-old Reshma Bano, 22-year-old Parveen Kousar and 20-year-old Saira Khatoon of Dhadkai village in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir are eagerly waiting to cast their votes for the first time. These first-time voters are also an inspiration to… pic.twitter.com/mERyj2iPlu — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 18, 2024
Dhadkahi is primarily inhabited by members of the Gujjar community, known for their agricultural practices and nomadic lifestyle. The unique characteristic of the village is that more than half of its population has faced challenges in hearing and speaking due to congenital medical conditions since 1950.
Despite these challenges, more than 35 per cent of the eligible voters in the village cast their votes at two polling booths by the afternoon, PTI reported.
Modi’s ‘Do shehzado ki jodi’ jibe at Rahul, Akhilesh
Addressing a poll rally in UP’s Amroha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday took a veiled dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, saying the “do shehzado ki jodi” has been rejected by people. “Once again, the shooting of a film of two princes is going on in UP, which has already been rejected …,” he said.
PM Modi also accused previous governments of cheating the SC, ST and OBC communities in the name of social justice, and said he is working towards achieving the dream of social reformers Jyotiba Phule, B R Ambedkar and Chaudhary Charan Singh.
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Modi’s dig at the duo comes days after Rahul and Akhilesh, in a joint meeting, took on the BJP on a range of issues — from dynastic politics to poll bonds — and said the ruling party will be “restricted to 150 seats”. The two leaders also reasserted their confidence in the Opposition INDIA bloc’s performance in the coming polls, which will see the ruling BJP-led NDA attempt a rare third term in power.
EC spreads voter awareness
Encouraging more people to come out and vote, the Election Commission, on its official X handle, shared several videos and photos of elderly persons and people far and wide coming out to exercise their franchise.
One post marked the “historic moment” when the Shompen tribe of the Great Nicobar Island cast their votes for the first time in the general elections.
A historic moment unfolds as the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar casts their votes for the first time in #GeneralElections2024. Every vote marks a milestone in their journey towards empowerment and representation.#ECI #LokSabhaElections2024 #ECISVEEP #IVoteforSure pic.twitter.com/Dril7oHCy4 — Chief Electoral Officer, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (@AndamanCEO) April 19, 2024
Sharing a video of eco-friendly booths, the poll body also showed how it is paving the way for sustainable elections.
Shades of green at the polls: Polling at eco-friendly polling booths! 🌱 Watch how the ECI is paving the way for sustainable elections.#SustainableElections #ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #ECI #Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/BuQSmE5ubc — Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 19, 2024
AAP attacks ruling BJP over Kejriwal’s arrest
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been running a series of posters on X, attacking the ruling dispensation over Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s diet and medical check-ups in Tihar jail, where he has been lodged following his arrest on March 21 in connection with the excise policy case.
Party leaders Sanjay Singh and Atishi, in multiple posts, have alleged that a “deep conspiracy” is being hatched against Kejriwal and any kind of accident can happen with him in prison. Singh has also demanded action against officials allegedly involved in the “conspiracy to jeopardize the life” of Kejriwal.
