The Lok Sabha election polling has started in six constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, which are Shahdol, Mandla, Jabalpur, Balaghat, Chhindwara, and Sidhi. These constituencies are spread across 13 districts and encompass 27 assembly segments. Polling began at 7 am and is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm in most locations, except for the Naxal-affected Balaghat constituency's Baihar, Lanji, and Paraswada assembly segments, where voting will occur from 7 am to 4 pm due to security concerns.
A total of 88 candidates, comprising 81 men and seven women, are competing across the six constituencies. Jabalpur has the highest number of candidates at 19, while Shahdol has the lowest with ten candidates vying for the seat. Out of the 13,588 booths where polling is taking place, 1,118 booths are under the supervision of women officials. The collective number of registered voters in these six constituencies amounts to 1,13,09,636 individuals, consisting of 57,20,780 males, 55,88,669 females, and 187 transgender voters.
In anticipation of hot weather conditions, polling stations have been equipped with provisions for shelter, water, and oral rehydration solution (ORS). Additionally, to address any emergencies, a helicopter has been stationed in Balaghat, an area affected by Naxal activity, while an air ambulance will be on standby in Jabalpur. In past elections, Madhya Pradesh has witnessed varying voter turnouts, with 77.82% recorded in the November 2023 assembly elections, 61.57% in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, and a rise to 71.16% during the 2019 general elections. Looking ahead, polling for the remaining 23 seats in the state will occur in three more phases on April 26, May 7, and May 13, with the ruling BJP aiming to maintain its dominance after securing 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections, with the remaining seat held by the Congress in Chhindwara.