Lok Sabha elections in India will start on April 19
The Lok Sabha election schedule has been announced in India, the world's largest democratic country.
In a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday (March 16) afternoon, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajeev Kumar said that this election will be held in seven phases. The election will start from April 19. And counting of votes will start on June 4.
According to a report of the Indian media NDTV, the term of the current Lok Sabha will end next June. Before that a new government has to be formed. Legislatures of Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal and Odisha will also end in June. The election schedule has been announced in these states as well.
Arunachal Pradesh assembly elections will be held on April 19. Counting of votes will take place on June 4. Andhra Pradesh assembly elections will be held on May 13.
The Election Code of Conduct came into force after the announcement of the schedule. As a result, a government cannot take any policy decisions or make new promises that affect elections.
There is also speculation about the number of phases of this year's election. The 2019 elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results were declared after four days.
Anup Chandra Pandey recently retired from the three-member Election Commission of India. Arun Goel suddenly resigned from the post of Election Commissioner a few days ago. As a result, only Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar is performing the duties of the commission.
About 97 crore people are eligible to vote in the Lok Sabha elections. 10 lakh 50 thousand polling stations have been prepared for polling. Elections will be held in Electronic Voting Machines or EVMs. 55 lakh EVMs have been arranged for this.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ahead in opinion polls. And if the BJP wins, the 73-year-old Modi will become India's Prime Minister for a third consecutive term after India's independence hero and first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.