More than 1,600 candidates, including eight Union ministers, two former Chief Ministers and an ex-Governor, will test their electoral fate today as India is going for polls in the first phase of the crucial Lok Sabha elections 2024.

PM Modi urged all the voters to caste their vote, he said, "The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers. I particularly call upon the young and first time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters!"

Voting has already begun at 7 am and end at 6 pm. However, it is important to note that timings may differ for some seats going to vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls.

The Election Commission has deployed over 18 lakh polling personnel across 1.87 lakh polling stations where over 16.63 crore voters will exercise their franchise. The 16.63 voters include 8.4 crore men, 8.23 crore women and 11,371 third gender.

In addition to this, voting will also be held for 92 Assembly seats in the state elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.