New Delhi: The Lok Sabha election 2024 has officially kicked off with the first phase of polling taking place in 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states. On the occasion, banks in several cities, including Chennai, Agartala, Dehradun, Aizawl, Itanagar, Jaipur, Kohima, Nagpur, and Shillong, have been closed.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has declared that many banks will be closed on election day in their respective cities, as per the RBI holiday calendar for this year.

The first phase of polling will be held in 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states on Friday. The elections will be conducted in seven phases, with some states already declaring paid or public holidays for residents on voting day.

The seven northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura – and Sikkim, will vote on April 19, 26, and May 7. 

While elections in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim will vote in a single phase, polling in Assam, Tripura, and Manipur will be held in multiple phases.

Almost 100 crore people are entitled to cast ballots to determine who gets to sit in India’s lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, and who will become India’s next prime minister.

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