By Aminul Islam Mirja
NEW DELHI, March 10, 2019 (BSS) – The Election Commission of India today announced the schedule of national election (Lok Sabha) signaling the start of democratic exercise in the world involving nearly 90 crore voters.
According to the polls schedule, the election to 543 seats of the Lok Sabha will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 and the results will be declared on May 23.
“Elaborate measurers have been taken for peaceful holding of the election…exams, festivals, harvesting, weather condition have been taken into consideration to this end,” said Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora while announcing the polls schedule here this afternoon.
In the first phase, election to 91 constituencies spread across 20 states would be held on April 11 while election to 97 constituencies of 13 states on April 18 in second phase and election to 115 constituencies under 14 states on April 23 in the third phase.
Besides, election to 71 constituencies under nine states would be held on April 29 on the 4th phase and election to 51 constituencies spread across seven states on May 6 on 5th phase while election to 59 constituencies of seven states on May 12 on the 6 th phase.
Election to 79 constituencies spread across eight states would be held on May 19 on the 7 th and last phase of the polling.
The tenure of the current Lok Sabha ends on June 3.
Apart from the national election, the commission also announced the polls dates of assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
About assembly election in the troubled-torn Jammu and Kashmir, the CEC said no assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held along with Lok Sabha polls.
“Only Lok Sabha elections would be held in Jammu and Kashmir…a three-member panel of observers will be appointed to assess the security situation for holding assembly election later,” he added.
Elections for six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases. In Anantnag Lok Sabha seat polling will take place in three phases due to security reasons
The poll process will be stretched across seven phases in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. In 22 states, it will be held on a single day.
Voting in Delhi that consists seven parliamentary seats would be held on May 12.
The announcement of the poll schedule kicks in the ground rules for the contest, called the model code of conduct designed to create a level-playing field for opposition parties.
The code prohibits governments from making any announcement that could influence the voters and gives the poll panel, the power to transfer any official associated with the election process across India.
In 2014, the Lok Sabha polling was held on nine days between April 7 and May 12 when the BJP secured a clear majority. The Congress ended up with a nose, down to its lowest tally ever of 44.
This was the first time since 1984 general elections that a single political party could win majority. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 336 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP won 282.
PM Modi is the only the second non-Congress Prime Minister to complete a full term in office in the country’s history – Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first – and has already started a high-pitched campaign to be the first to return to power.
Shortly after the national election dates were announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “The festival of democracy, Elections are here.” He urged his fellow Indians to enrich the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with their active participation and hoped this election witnesses a historic turnout.
“I particularly call upon first time voters to vote in record numbers,” tweeted premier Modi.