Lok Sabha Election Dates 2024 Highlights: 7-phase polling from April 19; Oppn calls it ‘last chance to save democracy’

Just before the Election Commission’s (EC’s) announcement Saturday of the the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled for May 13, the ruling Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP declared its candidates for all 175 Assembly seats and 24 out of 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

The YSRCP announced the list of its candidates at the “samadhi” (grave) of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy at Idupulupaya in Kadapa district, in the presence of party supremo and CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Jagan has dropped 14 of the 22 sitting YSRCP MPs or over 60% of the incumbent party MPs, bringing in fresh faces to counter anti-incumbency. Notable among those who have been dropped are sitting Vishakhapatnam MP MVV Satyanaryana, Gorantla Madhav from Hindupur, Chinta Anuradha from Amalapuram, Araku MP Godeti Madhavi, Maragani Bharat Ram from Rajamahendravaram, Talari Rangaiah from Anantapur, and Magunta Srinivasulu from Ongole.

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Soon after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule, the Opposition parties, including the Congress, Saturday said that it was “perhaps the last chance to save democracy and the Constitution from dictatorship”.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the people of the country “will together fight against hatred, unemployment and price rise.”

“The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the ‘door of Nyay’ for India. This would be perhaps the last chance to save democracy and our Constitution from dictatorship. We the people of India’ will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities. ‘Haath Badlega Halaat’ (the Hand will change the situation),” Kharge said on X, referring to the Congress’s poll symbol.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati, in a statement, welcomed the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls schedule.  However, she said it would have been better if the elections were held in three or four phases, instead of seven.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav said the Lok Sabha election will decide the future of the country. Yadav also called the upcoming elections an “agni pariksha” (test of fire) of the democracy.

Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the upcoming elections a “great festival of democracy.” He appealed to the public to vote against “dictatorship and hooliganism” this time.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections is only the second instance when voting and counting has extended into the peak summer month of June, a move necessitated by a combination of factors, sources in the Election Commission said.

The 1991 Lok Sabha elections were held in May-June, but that was because the Chandra Shekhar government was dissolved 16 months after it was sworn in.

Ritika Chopra explains the history behind the Lok Sabha schedule

“Adhoori hasrato ka iljam har bar hum par lagana thik nahi, wafa khud se nahi hoti, khata EVM ki kehte ho, aur baad mein jab parinam aata hai toh uspe qayam bhi nahi rehte."

The couplet, which CEC Rajiv Kumar said he thought of on Friday night, means it is not proper to blame the Election Commission for unfulfilled desires when one has not done his or her job properly.

Read more about what the CEC said here

? "Refrain from personal attack… let’s not cross lines in our rivalry"

? “As far as electoral bonds are concerned, the Commission has always been in favour of transparency”

? “We will be ruthless if violence takes place anywhere during polls.”

Check out the top highlights from CEC Rajiv Kumar's speech here.

The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be held on May 13 with voters in 94 parliamentary constituencies across 10 states casting their ballot to elect the new government.

For the Lok Sabha polls, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar will have the longest voting schedule across seven phases. This is followed by Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir in five phases; Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha in four phases; Assam and Chhattisgarh in three phases; and, Karnataka, Manipur, Rajasthan and Tripura in two phases.  The remaining states and Union Territories will go to poll on a single day.

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Rahul Gandhi has walked the extra mile, while his party Congress has swallowed pride and joined a band of disparate Opposition parties to stop the Narendra Modi juggernaut and announced, perhaps for the first time, a raft of poll promises even before the election schedule was announced.

Despite these unprecedented political moves, the Congress is entering the Lok Sabha battlefield with just a flicker of hope of a repeat of the 2004 verdict.

Its grand plan to ensure that there is one Opposition candidate against the BJP in 400 plus Lok Sabha seats has not fully materialised — there will still be Opposition coalitions in several states — and the INDIA alliance has struggled to sustain its momentum after its much-hyped launch in Patna last year largely because of internal divisions and bickerings besides some high-profile exits.

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The third phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be held on May 7 with voters in 94 parliamentary constituencies across 12 states casting their ballot to elect the new government.

For the Lok Sabha polls, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar will have the longest voting schedule across seven phases. This is followed by Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir in five phases; Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha in four phases; Assam and Chhattisgarh in three phases; and, Karnataka, Manipur, Rajasthan and Tripura in two phases.  The remaining states and Union Territories will go to poll on a single day.

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The seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be held on June 1 with voters in 102 parliamentary constituencies across 8 states casting their ballot to elect the new government.

For the Lok Sabha polls, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar will have the longest voting schedule across seven phases. This is followed by Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir in five phases; Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha in four phases; Assam and Chhattisgarh in three phases; and, Karnataka, Manipur, Rajasthan and Tripura in two phases.  The remaining states and Union Territories will go to poll on a single day.

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The gender ratio of voters has crossed 1,000 in 12 states, compared to 8 last time. There are also 20% more first-time voters this time

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Maharashtra will elect 48 members to the Lok Sabha in an election spread over five phases that will be held from April 19 to May 20 this year, with Mumbai residents voting on May 20.

The first phase on April 19 will see five constituencies in Vidarbha go to polls, including Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur and Chandrapur. In the second phase, eight constituencies in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions – Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Yavatmal Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani – will vote on April 26.

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The 18th Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal will be held in seven phases, across 42 constituencies, from April 19 to June 1. While it will be completed over 44 days this time, the previous Lok Sabha election in the state, also held in seven phases, was completed in 39 days.

The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, expressed disappointment and argued that the polling held in so many phases would only be advantageous to the BJP.

The eight seats in north Bengal will see polling take place in three phases, whereas the election in south Bengal’s 34 seats will be held over five phases.

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The Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held between April 19 and June 1 across seven phases, the Election Commission (EC) announced on March 16 (Saturday). The counting of votes cast in the polls will be held on June 4. The seven phases will cover 543 constituencies.

Find out all the details here

When asked on when one could expect Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said: “EC stands committed to holding Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir soon after the Lok Sabha elections.”

Voting for 60 Assembly seats of Arunachal Pradesh and 32 of Sikkim on April 19: EC

Setting the stage for a two-month-long electoral battle, the Election Commission Saturday announced that the Lok Sabha elections will be kicking off on April 19 across seven phases. The results will be declared on June 4.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar listed measures it is taking to tackle the challenges:

• To foster political discourse which inspire rather than divide
• Issue-based campaigning
• No hate speeches
• No caste or religious appeals
• No criticism of any aspect of private life
• Pattern of past MCC violations to prepare grounds for civilised campaigning in the general elections
• To refrain from unverified and misleading ads
• No masquerading of advertisements as news
• Responsibility on star campaigners to maintain decorum

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the plummeting level of political discourse is a matter of concern and the EC would be going beyond the moral censure to act against Model Code violators.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, said that EC has issued an advisory against masquerading advertisement as news.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, while speaking about violence during polls, said: “We will be ruthless if violence takes place anywhere during polls.”

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar spoke about the challenges that face the EC. “There is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections... From wherever we will receive the information of violence, we will take action against them..."

The Know Your Candidate app helps a voter to see the affidavit of the candidate. It helps one know their criminal antecedents. Using the cVigil App, the voter can take records and report violation of the election rules. With the VHA app, one can apply forms online, view polling booth details.

Here are the assured minimum facilities at all 10.48 lakh polling stations: 

Drinking Water
Toilets
Signage
Ramp/Wheelchair
Help Desk
Voter FAcilitation Centre
Sufficient light
Shed

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar spoke about the challenges that face the EC, he said that it has been broadly categorized under 4 Ms — Money, Muscle, MCC violation and Misinformation.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the EC was ready to facilitate vote-from-home for electors above 85 years of age and for persons with disabilities across country.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the nationwide gender ratio among voters at 948 and in 12 states and UTs, there are more female than male voters.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said: “We have 97 crore registered voters, more than combined voters of a few continents. Over 10.5 lakh polling stations, 1.5 crore polling officials, security officials. More than 55 lakh EVMs, 4 lakh vehicles.”

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said: “The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is due to expire on June 16, 2024. The term of legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim are also due to expire on June 24. Assembly elections are also due in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Last 11 state polls were peaceful, violence-free with near-zero repolls; we will further improve it going forward: CEC Rajiv Kumar

Setting the stage for a two-month-long electoral battle, Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that it was the EC’s promise to deliver national election in a manner that can add to India's shine on world stage.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, there would be 97 crore registered voters.

Our team is now complete, we are fully prepared for biggest festival of Indian democracy, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday.

Addressing the press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that 2024 is a year of elections around the world

The Election Commission’s briefing to announce the schedule and phases of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls has started. The dates and phases will be declared soon.

The Election Commission’s briefing to announce the schedule and phases of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls has started. The dates and phases of the general elections will be out soon.

The Election Commission is all set to announce the dates of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, setting off a two-month-long electoral battle across the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi aiming to retain power for a third term.

Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has left the ECI office ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls schedule.

The Election Commission will be announcing the schedule of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls at 3 pm, kicking off a two-month-long electoral battle.

The Election Commission recently announced that as many as 1.84 crore electors fall within the 18-19 years age group and 19.74 crore electors fall within the 20-29 years age group. 

The Election Commission recently announced that as many as 96.88 crore registered voters will be exercising their franchise in the upcoming elections, of which, approximately 47.15 crore are women.