Today marks the beginning of voting for the first phase of India's 18th Lok Sabha elections, a significant event in the world's largest democracy. Voting commenced at seven in the morning local time and will continue until 5 pm, spanning 102 constituencies across 17 states and four Union Territories.

In addition to the Lok Sabha elections, 60 assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh and 32 in Sikkim are up for polling today. Notably, three constituencies in West Bengal – Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri – are also part of the first phase voting, witnessing a fierce battle between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Recent opinion polls indicate a favorable outcome for Prime Minister Modi's BJP and its allies, projecting a potential third term victory. In the 2019 elections, BJP alone secured 303 seats, with its alliance NDA garnering 352 seats overall.

Challenges arise from the Congress-led coalition, the principal opposition party, with over 24 political parties joining the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (India). Notable leaders of this coalition include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and the incarcerated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

West Bengal, a crucial battleground, witnessed a notable shift in the 2019 elections, with Trinamool Congress securing 22 seats, BJP 18 seats, and Congress 2 seats out of 42. With 7.69 crore voters expected to cast their ballots in West Bengal, the stakes are high in this fiercely contested region.

Across the nation, approximately 97 crore registered voters will exercise their democratic right across 543 constituencies in seven phases. The results of this monumental electoral process are slated to be announced on June 4, shaping the political landscape of India for the coming years.