On 16-03-2024, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has announced the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The elections for 543 seats will span 7 phases, commencing on April 19 and concluding on June 1, with results expected on June 4.
The announcement of the Lok Sabha election date 2024 comes two days after the appointment of two new Election Commissioners- Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
He clarified that simultaneous polls will not take place. Additionally, assembly polls for Andhra Pradesh will occur on May 13, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh on April 19, and Odisha on May 13.
Addressing the press, the Election Commission emphasized its efforts to address the challenges of muscle power, financial influence, misinformation, and violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which impede the conduct of free and fair elections.
Approximately 97 crore individuals are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming polls. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced provisions allowing voters aged 85 and above to vote from home. Moreover, he assured that basic amenities such as drinking water and sanitation facilities will be accessible at all polling stations. With the current Lok Sabha term ending on June 16 and the tenure of four state assemblies also concluding in June, the formation of new legislative bodies is imperative.In the previous parliamentary elections, the BJP secured 303 seats, aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Congress garnered 52 seats. The upcoming polls hold significant importance for the opposition coalition INDIA, which seeks to challenge the BJP’s dominance.
The forthcoming general elections will extend over 44 days, marking the longest voting period for the Lok Sabha election in 2024 since the inaugural general elections in 1951-52. While the Election Commission initially conducted the first general elections over a span of four months, subsequent elections saw a significant reduction in the voting period.
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) will kick in after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election date 2024 which means that the political parties, candidates, and government must work under the stipulated guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI) around their speeches, announcements, election manifestos etc.
As the EC announced Lok Sabha election dates, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: “Today, the Election Commission has announced the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Elections are a grand festival for the world’s largest democracy….I appeal to the youth, women, and all voters to participate in this grand festival of democracy by voting in greater numbers to elect the BJP-led NDA government, which prioritizes the nation first.”
The Opposition has reacted on the seven-phase Lok Sabha election schedule announced by the Election Commission, saying for over one month “there won’t be any govt and election procedure will be underway”.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, ” Election Commission must have thought of something before giving such a long period…on one side we talk about ‘one nation one election’ and on the other hand there is election in 7 phases, so for almost one and half month, the atmosphere in the country will be such that, there won’t be any govt and election procedure will be underway…in Maharashtra, Maha Vikas Aghadi candidates will win with a huge majority and people will give answer to the kind of cheating happened with us.”
Congress leader Priyank Kharge has said the election schedule has been announced to help PM Modi get the maximum mileage across the country. “Just like the last time, the Election Commission seems to have announced the dates in a manner PM Modi can get the maximum mileage to get the party’s (BJP) narrative across the states. It is being held in 7 phases. Maharashtra has election in 5 phases, so it is quite evident that this entire election process is to ensure that BJP gets more time to have their star campaigner move around the country much more easily,” Priyank Kharge said.