New Delhi: Setting the ball rolling for the two-month long electoral battle, the Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the 2024 Lok Sabha Poll schedule, with voting in seven phases beginning April 19. The results will be announced on June 4.
Simultaneous Assembly Elections will be held in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said during a press conference here. As the election schedule is announced, the Model Code of Conduct, which bars the government in power from announcing any new policy decisions, comes into effect immediately.
Here are the live updates on this big story:
- Seven phase voting datesLok Sabha Poll Schedule
- 10.04 pm
How CEC Rajiv Kumar used poetry to rebut criticism of EVMs: CEC Kumar used a verse on Saturday to take a dig at the critics of electronic voting machines (EVMs), saying the poll authority is often at the receiving end of "unfulfilled desires". "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," Kumar said, announcing the seven-phase Lok Sabha election. The couplet, which 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. He said this to buttress the point that even ruling parties have lost elections when EVMs were used for polling. - 8.57 pm
As the Model Code of Conduct comes into force across India, the EC has reminded parties to maintain decorum during the campaign. The MCC came into force on Saturday with the announcement of Lok Sabha polls by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. So what is MCC? Read More... - 8.00 pm
Suspense Over J&K Assembly Polls Continues: The Election Commission has again given a miss to assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir with the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday saying that after the delimitation of seats in the union territory, the required amendment in the J&K Reorganisation Act was made only in December 2023 giving little time to the poll body. Read More... - 7.04 pm
The BJP will form its government at the Centre with an "overwhelming majority" under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and work with determination to fulfil people's aspirations in the next five years, party chief J P Nadda said, welcoming the announcement of polls by the Election Commission on Saturday. In a post on X in Hindi, Nadda called upon people to vote in record numbers and further strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy. "I welcome the announcement of Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Election Commission," he said. Nadda said elections are the biggest festival of democracy and a medium to keep the country and the state moving on the path of development and good governance."I call upon the people of the entire country to vote in record numbers and further strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy," he wrote on the social media website. - 6.07 pm
Kashmir Reference For Displaced Manipur Voters: The Election Commission will allow residents of Manipur living in camps in violence-hit state to vote from their camps in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the poll body said on Saturday as it announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The facility is on the lines of a similar one provided over the years for the displaced Kashmiri migrants who were forced to leave the valley during the armed militancy in the 1990s. Read More... - 5.21 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi after EC announces 2024 Lok Sabha Election Schedule: "The biggest festival of democracy is here! EC has announced the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates. We, the BJP-NDA, are fully prepared for elections. We are going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and service delivery across sectors." Read More... - 5.08 pm
The Trinamool Congress on Saturday said the Election Commission did not take into account the West Bengal government's views as seven-phase Lok Sabha polls were announced for the 42 seats in the state. Read More... - 4.54 pm
Twelve states have more women voters than men, with a total of 47.1 crore females registered in the electoral roll in the country, the Election Commission said on Saturday. Read More... - 4.40 pm
Over 48,000 transgenders are eligible to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday. Read More... - 4.35 pm
EC stands committed to holding Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir soon after LS elections: CEC. - 4.29 pm
Arun Goel was very distinguished team member, we must respect if he had personal reasons to quit: CEC Rajiv Kumar. - 4.21 pm
Seven phases necessary keeping in mind geographic conditions, festivals, exams and other factors, says CEC Rajiv Kumar on LS poll schedule. Courts looked into various complaints against EVMs 40 times and rejected all charges every time, he says. All parties know in their hearts EVMs made poll process fairer and better; same EVMs have seen ruling parties lose, the CEC adds. - 4.12 pm
Voting for 102 seats in first phase on April 19. Voting for 89 seats across 13 states/UTs in 2nd phase on April 26. Voting for 94 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states/UTs in third phase on May 7. Voting for 96 Lok Sabha seats across 10 states and UTs in fourth phase on May 13. Fifth phase of voting for 49 Lok Sabha seats on May 20; 6th phase on May 25 for 57 seats. Last and 7th phase of voting on June 1 to cover 57 Lok Sabha seats across eight states.LS Poll Schedule
Lok Sabha Poll Schedule Announced
- 4.03 pm
First phase to be held on 19th April, second phase on 26th April, third phase on 7th May, fourth phase on 13th May, fifth phase on 20th May, sixth phase on 25th May and the seventh phase on 1st June: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. - 3.59 pm
General Elections to be conducted in 7 phases beginning April 19. Counting of votes across the country on June 4 for all phases. - 3.45 pm
Schedule: Bye-elections in 26 constituencies will be conducted during the LS Polls. Assembly elections in four state: Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls will also take place simultaneously. - 3.45 pm
CEC on desired results: Reduced repolls, zero violence, no inducements, quickly curbing fake narratives, no campaign clutter, enhanced participation. - 3.43 pm
CEC: We are appointing 2100 observers. DEOs to ensure level playing field. Ensure inducement, coercion and intimidation-free elections. Force deployment and its randomization. Randomization of election machinery personnel. - 3.40 pm
CEC: Advisory to political parties on MCC violations. No hate speeches, no caste or religious appeals, no criticism of any aspect of private life, to refrain from unverified and misleading ads, no masquerading of advertisements as news, restrain on social media posts vilifying/insulting rivals, responsibility on star campaigners to maintain decorum. Pattern of past MCC violations to prepare grounds for civilized campaigning in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. - 3.36 pm
CEC on misinformation: The political parties are advised to ensure responsible social media behaviour. Originators of fake news to be dealt with severely as per extant laws. Section 79(3)()B of the IT Act empowers nodal officers in each state to remove unlawful content. EC will curtail fake narratives - SOP for quick response against fake news with proactive communication on fakes - Myth vs reality on eci.gov.in. - 3.34 pm
CEC: Determined to tackle 4 Ms: muscle, money, misinformation and Model Code violation. No movement of cash in bank vehicles after sunset. Surveillance and inspection of non-scheduled chartered flights. Route chart of flow of cash/liquor/drugs identified. Strict vigil over illicit online cash transfers. Strike hard against kingpins. - 3.31 pm
CEC: Rs 3400 crore money movement has been controlled. Exponential increase (835%) in seizures in last 11 state assembly elections. - 3.28 pm
CEC: "24x7 integrated control room in districts...adequate CAPF deployment...We have given strict directions to districts and state administrations. No volunteers and contractual staff on election duties. Impersonators to face legal action. We want to ensure violence-free elections with utmost determination." - 3.23 pm
Ready to facilitate vote from home for electors above 85 years of age and for persons with disabilities across country...In 12 states the ratio of women voters is higher than men voters: CEC - 3.22 pm
Chief Election Commissioner flags 'urban apathy' while promising that the EC will ensure people in the farthest corners of the country are able to vote with the least inconvenience. He said the people who have booths next to their homes in urban areas, at times, do not vote. He requests every voter to exercise their franchise. - 3.19 pm
Chief Election Commissioner: "We have 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years...We will take democracy to every corner of the country." - 3.18 pm
Total electors include 49.7 crore males, 47.1 crore females, 48,000 transgenders. Our electoral roll includes 82 lakh voters of over 85 years of age, 2.18 lakh centenarians: CEC Rajiv Kumar. - 3.15 pm
Last 11 state polls were peaceful, violence-free with near-zero repolls; we will further improve it going forward: CEC Rajiv Kumar. - 3.10 pm
CEC Rajiv Kumar: "We have 97 crore registered voters, 10.5 lakhs polling stations, 1.5 crores polling officials and security staff, 55 lakhs EVMs, 4 lakhs vehicles. We have conducted over 400 assembly elections...16 presidential and vice presidential elections. It is truly a gold standard." - 3.06 pm
CEC Rajiv Kumar in his opening remarks: "Our team is now complete, we are fully prepared for biggest festival of Indian democracy. We are awaiting to ink the voters. 2024 is the year of elections across the world. Indian Elections are like a pole star...The whole world is focused on India. It is our promise to deliver the national election in a manner that can add to India's shine on world stage." - 3.00 pm
The Election Commission has begun addressing the crucial press conference to unveil the much-anticipated schedule for upcoming Lok Sabha elections and four state assemblies. - 2.54 pm
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.
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