New Delhi:

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, seven members of the Shompen tribe of the Greater Nicobar Islands, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), exercised their voting rights for the first time in the Union Territory’s only Lok Sabha seat. Not only did they vote, they also posed for selfies at the 411 polling station called “Shompen Hut”.

A historic moment begins as the Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar Islands votes for the first time. #GeneralElections2024. Every vote marks a milestone on their journey to empowerment and representation.#ECI#2024 Lok Sabha Elections#ECISVEEP#IVoteforSurepic.twitter.com/Dril7oHCy4

— Chief Electoral Officer of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (@AndamanCEO) April 19, 2024

Many newlyweds were early voters in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, with some arriving at polling stations in traditional attire soon after exchanging vows.

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district (Udhampur assembly constituency), the bride’s ‘vidaai’ ceremony was postponed so that she could go to cast her vote.

“I strongly appeal to people to vote for the development of the country,” Vishal Shanki said as he waited outside a polling booth in Bhadwah town for his wife Monica Sharma to return after casting her vote.

Dheeraj Soni and Pooja Soni voted in Sikar in Rajasthan soon after their marriage, Aseem Mangotra and Vishali voted in Udhampur and Devesh Thakur and Gangotri Thakur voted in Naranapur in Chhattisgarh.

** Elderly and disabled people were carried to polling stations on stretchers and wheelchairs – a facility provided by the Electoral Commission to ensure they did not miss the opportunity to exercise their rights.

A 95-year-old retired naval officer turned down the board’s offer of home voting facilities for senior citizens and went to cast his vote at a polling station in Jaipur in his wheelchair. “I am here personally to ensure that my vote goes smoothly,” said RN Singh.

Retired professor Uday Singh, 92, came to Aurangabad in Bihar to cast his vote in a wheelchair.

** For the first time, people in 56 villages in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, voted at polling stations set up in their villages.

** There are also reports that villagers in Nehuta in Aurangabad in Bihar, Ulalipati in Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, and Purana, Dahgala and Bakshpur in Uttar Pradesh are suffering from lack of basic amenities and The vote was boycotted over issues such as lack of development works and infrastructure.

** In Assam’s Lakhimpur constituency, a sudden rise in water level washed away an SUV carrying an electronic voting machine (EVM), with part of the vehicle sinking into the river.

** Residents of Jammu and Kashmir’s Dhadkahi, known as the “silent village” for its large deaf population, voted to get roads, water, education and medical facilities.

** In Kotgaon, Madhya Pradesh, a son and his visually disabled father rode tirelessly to the polling station; in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, a man was seen holding a An elderly woman went to the polling station; while in Bhadwah, Udhampur, an unwell elderly woman was taken to the polling station in a richly decorated palanquin.

** Jyoti Amge, the world’s shortest woman, cast her vote in Nagpur, Maharashtra and appealed to people to come out in large numbers and exercise their right to vote in the elections.

**Grief aside, 27 joint family members cast their votes in Nagpur, Maharashtra, a day after losing an elderly relative.

** An elderly voter in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar threw an electronic voting machine (EVM) on the ground, demanding to vote through a ballot paper.

** The Bharud polling station in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh has an environmental theme, while the “pink” polling stations in the 102 constituencies in the first phase of voting are all staffed by women and have a large number of female voters Come and vote.

** More than 200 people from Tiruvallur constituency in Tamil Nadu claimed that their names were missing from the voters’ list. They belong to Uthukkottai.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)