Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Election Fee on Saturday introduced the schedule of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In its announcement, the apex ballot physique stated that the overall meeting polls might be carried out from April 19 to June 1, 2024. The Lok Sabha elections are slated to be held in seven phases. The counting of votes for the 18th Lok Sabha elections might be held on June 4.
Polling might be held in all seven phases in three states: Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, whereas Maharashtra will vote in 5 phases. Madhya Pradesh will witness voting in 4 phases. Karnataka and Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases, whereas Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh will vote in a single section.
In a press convention held within the nationwide capital, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar additionally introduced the polling dates for meeting elections in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim.
Lok Sabha Elections Dates Announcement: Right here Are Key Highlights
- Within the first section of the polls, voting is scheduled to be carried out for 102 constituencies throughout 21 states and Union Territories on April 19, 2024. In Part 2 voting might be held on April 26, 2024, for 89 seats throughout 13 states and Union Territories. So far as the third section is worried, it’ll cowl 94 seats throughout 12 states and Union Territories and the polling will happen on Could 7, 2024.
- The fourth section will witness voting in 96 constituencies on Could 13, 2024, throughout 10 states and Union Territories. The fifth section will cowl 49 seats in 8 states and Union Territories on Could 20, 2024.
- Part 6 of the Lok Sabha polls is ready to happen on Could 25, 2024, for 57 seats throughout 7 states and Union Territories. Within the seventh section on June 1, 2024, as many as 57 constituencies might be lined throughout 8 states and Union Territories.
- The voting for meeting elections will happen in Arunachal Pradesh on April 19, Andhra Pradesh on Could 13, Odisha on Could 13 and 20, and in Sikkim on April 19.
- The Election Fee stated that roughly 97 crore Indians could be eligible to vote on this yr’s Lok Sabha elections, representing a 6% improve in registered voters since 2019.
- Through the press convention, CEC Rajiv Kumar outlined the principle challenges going ahead, which he known as ‘the 4Ms’. He categorised the challenges going through the Election Fee into 4 essential areas: Cash energy, Muscle energy, Mannequin Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, and Misinformation.
- Rajiv Kumar additionally stated that the ballot panel has a ‘Know Your Candidate’ or KYC app that may allow voters to seek out out if a candidate nominated from his constituency has any prison antecedents. The CEC said that political events that nominate candidates with prison backgrounds must clarify the rationale behind the choice whereas the candidates themselves must put all related info within the public area.
- Calling on the voters to train vigilance and assist the ballot panel “clear up the system”, Rajiv Kumar stated, “We have now additionally rolled out cVigil app which allow voters to report any circumstances of money distribution or inducements to the fee. All they should do is to take a photograph of the incident or sort textual content and ship it to us. We are going to seize the situation of the particular person involved and can ship throughout a workforce inside 100 minutes to take acceptable motion.”
- The CEC stated youngsters shouldn’t be utilized in campaigning and the ballot watchdog might be very strict on that account. He additionally stated commercials masquerading as information won’t be allowed.
The CEC additionally expressed concern over the “plummeting stage of public discourse,” saying the ballot panel has been noticing a number of developments which can be at work, destabilising the decorum of the political discourse throughout campaigning.
Kumar stated that, as per Mannequin Code of Conduct provisions, the usage of provocative and inflammatory statements, the usage of intemperate and abusive language transgressing the bounds of decency, and assaults on the private character and conduct of political rivals vitiate the extent enjoying discipline. The ballot panel has additionally issued an advisory on the plummeting stage of public discourse.