Amidst the sacred environs of Puri, the honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi orchestrated a grand procession on the thoroughfares on a serene Monday morning. Accompanying him in this august display was the esteemed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contender from Puri, none other than Sambit Patra himself.
The corridors of history recall Patra’s electoral defeat in 2019 to Pinaki Mishra of the BJD. Now, he stands in electoral combat against Congress’ Jaya Narayan Patnayak and the BJD’s Arup Patnaik. Multitudes congregated along the thoroughfare, adorning it with their presence on either side, even ascending to the terraces, all in eager anticipation of glimpsing the Prime Minister, brandishing cut-out effigies of Modi and proudly brandishing the party ensign.
This day bears witness to the Prime Minister’s sojourn to Odisha and West Bengal, a day teeming with monumental significance. Scheduled on his itinerary are two public addresses, slated to unfold in the precincts of Dhenkanal and Cuttack in Odisha, followed by engagements in Tamluk and Jhargram in West Bengal. At the outset of the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi beseeched the electorate to exercise their franchise with unparalleled zeal in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, extending a special entreaty to the womenfolk and the burgeoning cadre of youthful voters to actively participate in the democratic symphony.
“In the fifth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as 49 constituencies spanning across 8 states and UTs embark on the electoral odyssey today, I implore all denizens of these constituencies to cast their ballots in unprecedented numbers. I extend a fervent plea to the womenfolk and the youth to engage fervently in this celebration of democracy,” articulated the Prime Minister in a communiqué shared on X.
The electoral ballet for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024 commenced at the break of dawn on Monday, encompassing 49 parliamentary constituencies sprawled across six states and two Union Territories (UTs), all under the vigilant gaze of heightened security and meticulous arrangements. This electoral saga unfolds over a span of seven phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1, with the reckoning scheduled for June 4.
The political arena pulsates with fervor as the Narendra Modi-led BJP endeavors to clinch a third consecutive term in governance, while the formidable opposition INDIA bloc marshals its forces in a bid to arrest the relentless advance of the ruling juggernaut.