7-Section Lok Sabha Polls To Start On April 19, Outcomes On June 4; “The Greatest Pageant Of Democracy Is Right here!”: PM Modi

New Delhi, Mar 16: The Lok Sabha polls will likely be held in seven phases unfold over 44 days beginning April 19 on the planet’s largest election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi eyeing a 3rd consecutive time period in workplace. Counting of votes will likely be taken up on June 4.
Asserting the ballot schedule to elect the 543-member Lok Sabha, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar informed a information convention on Saturday that over 97 crore voters–49.7 crore male and 47.1 crore feminine–are eligible to solid their votes throughout 10.5 lakh polling cubicles.
Whereas the opposition INDIA bloc stays hit by inner bickerings, Modi, 73, isn’t just trying to stamp his electoral dominance within the nation however can be chasing historical past searching for one other consecutive victory that may equal the nation’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s file.
Meeting elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will likely be held on April 19, and in Andhra Pradesh on Might 13. Elections to Odisha meeting will likely be held in 4 phases on Might 13, Might 20, Might 25 and June 1.
Bypolls will even be held for 26 meeting constituencies in several states, mentioned Kumar, who was flanked by the 2 new Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Polling will likely be held in all seven phases in three states–Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, all thought of key states within the battle for electoral supremacy.
The elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will start on April 19 adopted by subsequent phases on April 26, Might 7, Might 13, Might 20, Might 25 and June 1, mentioned Kumar. Your entire election course of, from the announcement of polls on Saturday to the declaration of outcomes, lasts 82 days.
Asserting that the BJP-led Nationwide Democratic Alliance(NDA) is totally ready for the overall elections, Prime Minister Modi slammed the opposition as “rudderless” and “issueless” and expressed confidence about retaining energy.
“The most important competition of democracy is right here! EC has introduced the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates. We, the BJP-NDA, are totally ready for elections,” he mentioned in a collection of posts on X with the hashtag ‘Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar’ (‘as soon as once more Modi authorities’), shortly after the ballot announcement.
Modi additionally highlighted the “wonderful turnaround” India has seen within the 10 years of his authorities. He mentioned the ruling alliance will go to individuals primarily based on its observe file of fine governance and repair supply throughout sectors.
Pushing a model of muscular nationalism solely his personal, the prime minister is constructing his marketing campaign narrative round ‘Modi ki assure’ whereas the Congress marketing campaign is predicted to revolve round ‘Nyay ensures’.
With the ballot announcement, the Mannequin Code of Conduct(MCC) has additionally come into impact.
“It’s our promise to ship a nationwide election in a fashion that we… stay a beacon for democracy around the globe,” Kumar mentioned, as he urged everybody to “get inked.”
He additionally suggested the political events towards hate speeches, caste or spiritual appeals, criticism of any side of personal life, masquerading of ads as information and social media posts vilifying or insulting rivals.
“I urge events to chorus from private assaults and foul language. No-go areas in speeches are outlined to keep up civility. Allow us to not cross strains in our rivalry. We’ve issued an advisory for the political events, they’re inspired to foster a political discourse that conjures up somewhat than divides,” he mentioned.
Drone-based checking at borders, surveillance of non-chartered flights, a crackdown on deceptive ads and faux information, and “ruthless” motion towards ballot violence are additionally among the many EC’s methods to take care of the four-fold problem of “muscle, cash, misinformation, and Mannequin Code violations”.
“The daunting problem in conducting free and honest elections are four-fold, the 4 Ms: muscle, cash, misinformation, and MCC (Mannequin Code of Conduct) violations. The Election Fee is dedicated and has put in place measures to take care of these disruptive challenges,” the CEC mentioned.
Kumar additionally mentioned Meeting polls in Jammu and Kashmir will likely be held as quickly as doable after the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge mentioned the Lok Sabha elections was “maybe the final probability to save lots of democracy and our Structure from dictatorship”.
“The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the ‘door of Nyay’ for India. This might be maybe the final probability to save lots of democracy and our Structure from dictatorship,” he added.
In ethnic violence-hit Manipur, individuals residing in camps will likely be allowed to vote from there with the EC making particular two-phase voting preparations in one of many two Lok Sabha constituencies.
Within the first section on April 19, voting will happen in 102 constituencies unfold over 21 states/UTs, with 10 states/UTs finishing the ballot course of on this section.
Voting will happen in 89 constituencies throughout 13 states/UTs within the second section on April 26, Kumar mentioned, including that the ballot course of could be accomplished in 4 extra states/UTs.
Within the third section on Might 7, voting will happen in 94 constituencies unfold throughout 12 states/UTs. With this, polling will likely be accomplished in six extra states/UTs.
Within the fourth section on Might 13, 96 constituencies unfold throughout 10 states UTs would vote. With this, three extra states/UTs would have accomplished voting.
As many as 49 constituencies unfold throughout eight states/UTs will vote in section 5 on Might 20. This section will see voting accomplished in three extra states/UTs.
Within the sixth section on Might 25, voting will happen in 57 constituencies unfold throughout seven states/UTs. Polling in two extra states/UTs could be accomplished with this section.
The seventh and closing section will happen on June 1 in 57 constituencies unfold throughout eight states/UTs. The polling course of in eight states/UTs could be accomplished.
Seen by political watchers because the favorite to retain energy for a 3rd straight time period, the BJP has set itself an bold goal of profitable 370 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP additionally hopes to profit from the spiritual fervour generated by the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
Coming into the Lok Sabha ballot fray after two successive defeats with its political picture significantly dented, the Congress however faces a tricky battle for its very survival this election because it fights a strong BJP.
On the ballot schedule, the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal mentioned there isn’t any legitimate purpose for holding elections in seven phases for the 42 seats within the japanese state, claiming that extra phases assist political events with deeper pockets.
Addressing a press convention in Kolkata, Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya additionally claimed that the EC didn’t take into consideration the state authorities’s suggestion of holding the elections in a single section or two phases within the state. (Businesses)