The world's largest democratic exercise began Thursday with crores of Indians coming out to vote to elect 91 parliamentarians in the first phase of over-a-month-long Lok Sabha polls for which the Modi government has made nationalism its core pitch to retain power amid a fragmented challenge from Congress and a number of regional players.Election officials said voter turnout was high at most places, while poll-related violence saw death of two persons in Andhra Pradesh and complaints poured in from various states about glitches in electronic voting machines and of names missing from the voter lists.
The first phase of polling in 91 Lok Sabha constituencies across 18 states and two Union Territories was held on Thursday. Polling for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 will be held in seven phases. Votes will be counted on May 23. Along with 91 Lok Sabha seats, voting to elect a government in four states - Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha was also held.