Election countdown begins, 50 days to go

Counting of votes will take place on May 13 but in Andhra Pradesh, where an Assembly has to be in place by that date, results are likely to be out a day or two earlier.

With the announcement of poll dates, the model code of conduct for the Government and political parties has been enforced with immediate effect.

Announcing the schedule at a press conference, Krishnamurthy, who was flanked by Election Commissioners N Gopalaswami and B B Tandon, expressed satisfaction over the availability of para-military forces for the elections.

But the commissioners did not spare the Government’s India Shining campaign: ‘‘It’s our interpretation that campaigns should end with the implementation of the model code of conduct.’’

Krishnamurthy said dates had been finalised keeping in mind school examinations, harvesting season, holidays, availability of teachers and school premises.

On April 20, the first day of the polls, 16 states and Union Territories (UTs) with 141 Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls. The second phase on April 26 will cover 11 states and UTs and 137 constituencies.

On May 5, the third phase will be conducted in seven states and UTs and 83 constituencies. On May 10, the last polling day, 16 states and 182 constituencies will cast their vote.

The dates for Assembly polls in four states will coincide with parliamentary elections. Votes for Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa will be cast in two phases on April 20 and 26. Sikkim will choose its House on May 10.‘‘The commission held a meeting with representatives of all national and state recognised parties on February 20, and held meetings with chief secretaries and directors general of police and chief electoral officers of all states to assess the law and order situation, the requirement of para-military forces and the overall preparedness of the election machinery,’’ Krishnamurthy said.

With the announcement of polls, fresh registration of political parties would remain suspended until completion of the poll process on May 25, the CEC said.

Notification for the four stages would be issued on March 24 and 31, April 8 and 16 respectively.

The last date for filing of nominations will be March 31, April 7, 15 and 23. Scrutiny will be conducted in five phases on April 1, 2, 8, 16 and 24.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature has been split into five stages — April 3, 5, 10, 19 and 26.

Going by a Supreme Court order, all candidates, while filing nomination papers, would be required to file affidavits providing information on their antecedents, moveable and immoveable properties, spouse and dependents, liabilities and educational qualifications.

The CEC said filing of affidavits was mandatory. Nomination papers of any individual not filing an affidavit would result in rejection.

While appealing to political parties and Government to follow the model code of conduct, Krishnamurthy warned that the Commission meant business and would not hesitate in ordering repoll in consituencies wherever violations or discrepancies are detected.

The Commission urged political parties to make the ‘‘best nomination’’ as far as possible because they had ‘‘certain responsibilities’’ to the electorate.

Taking a swipe at US State Department’s observation that India was ‘‘a flawed democracy,’’ Krishnamurthy said the first step towards a flawless democracy was the conduct of flawless elections and India’s history in this regard had been much better than any advanced country.

Reacting to the EC announcement of poll dates, both BJP and Congress said they were fully prepared for the polls.

‘‘We welcome the decision of the Election Commission to hold polls in four phases,’’ said Congress MP Kapil Sibal.

He said the EC had assured them that electronic voting machines couldn’t be misused.

The BJP too welcomed the poll schedule. ‘‘We are confident that the BJP-led NDA would get a renewed mandate from the people,’’ said BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar.