Desh Ka Mood Live Updates: NDA set to sweep Bihar; SP-BSP alliance reigns supreme in UP

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 and the votes will be counted on May 23. Approximately 10 lakh polling stations, one lakh more than in 2014, will be set up and a total of 17.4 lakh VVPATs will be used with electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all polling stations.

Background

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India is expected to hold a press conference at 5 pm on Sunday to announce the dates for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. As per reports, the Election Commission is set to have finalised the dates of the polls and also concluded preparatory meetings. The election commission was scheduled to hold a crucial meeting on Saturday to discuss the final modalities of the parliamentary polls. The elections are likely to be held over seven or eight phases in April-May, sources said.Opposition parties have questioned the delay in announcing the poll dates, with senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel asking the EC whether it was waiting for the Prime Minister's "official" travel programme "to conclude".The announcement of dates will be followed by a meeting of election observers next week for the first and second phase of polling. In 2009, the commission had announced Lok Sabha poll schedule on March 2. The five-phase polls began on April 16 and ended on May 13.In 2014, the commission had announced the election schedule on March 5 and the nine-phase electoral exercise was spread across April and May. While the first phase polling was on April 7, the last phase was on May 12. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3.There is a strong possibility that the EC may go by the precedent and hold assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh along with the Lok Sabha polls. Since the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has been dissolved, the EC is bound to hold fresh polls there as well within a six-month period, which will end in May.While there is a view that the J-K assembly elections can be held along with the Lok Sabha polls, a lot depends on the complex security situation in the state given the heightened tension along the India-Pakistan border.The Centre and the state administration, being managed by the Centre-appointed Governor, are against holding the two elections together.However, all political parties in the state favoured simultaneous polls during a meeting with the Election Commission earlier this week.The J-K assembly's six-year term was to end on March 16, 2021, but it got dissolved after a ruling coalition between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fell apart. The other state assemblies and Lok Sabha have five-year terms.The required electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are in place to be deployed in nearly 10 lakh polling stations across 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.There is a high probability of the elections being spread across seven to eight phases this time.  In 2014, the EC had announced the election schedule on March 5 and the nine-phase electoral exercise was spread across April and May. While the first phase polling was on April 7, the last phase was on May 12.

10/03/2019 20:17:13

Out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, the BJP is projected to win 20 while the Congress, which seems to be struggling to hold ground against the ruling NDA, may only get 5.

10/03/2019 20:10:37

In the North East, the NDA projected to win 13 seats out of the total 25 Lok Sabha seats, the UPA may get 10 seats.

10/03/2019 20:05:28

In Madhya Pradesh (29 seats), the NDA is tipped to win 24 seats while UPA may get a measly five.

10/03/2019 20:03:00

In Madhya Pradesh (29 seats), the NDA is tipped to win 24 seats while UPA may get a measly five.

10/03/2019 19:45:00

As per the ABP-C Voter poll survey, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is all set to win a lion's share of the seats in upcoming Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is likely to win 34 out of the 42 parliamentary seats in the state. The BJP has made significant inroads into the political pie but still remains far away from the stranglehold the TMC has in the political landscape. The saffron party is likely to win seven seats in West Bengal.

10/03/2019 19:32:28

In Maharashtra, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is projected to win 35 seats while the Congress-NCP combine may bag 13 seats.

10/03/2019 19:25:44

Bihar (40 seats) - ABP News-CVoter Survey projects 36 seats for the NDA here, UPA may get 4.

10/03/2019 19:08:23

Bihar (40 seats) - ABP News-CVoter Survey projects 36 seats for the NDA here, UPA may get 4.

10/03/2019 19:07:56

Desh Ka Mood - Uttar Pradesh (80 seats) ABP News-CVoter survey predicts 47 seats for the grand alliance, 29 for NDA, UPA 4

10/03/2019 19:24:28

With the Election Commission announcing the Lok Sabha election 2019 schedule, ABP News on Sunday conducted a survey to gauge the public opinion of the electorate across the nation.

10/03/2019 18:54:17

In 2014, the people comprehensively rejected the UPA. There was unprecedented anger over the UPA’s corruption, nepotism and policy paralysis. India’s self-confidence was at an all-time low and the people of India wanted to rid the nation of such decay and pessimism: PM Modi

10/03/2019 18:54:09

Best wishes to the Election Commission, all those officials and security personnel who will be on the field, across the length and breadth of India assuring smooth elections. India is very proud of the EC for assiduously organising elections for several years: PM Modi

10/03/2019 18:54:00

The festival of democracy, Elections are here. I urge my fellow Indians to enrich the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with their active participation. I hope this election witnesses a historic turnout. I particularly call upon first time voters to vote in record numbers: PM Modi

10/03/2019 18:51:59

With the model code of conduct for elections coming into immediate effect, the government cannot announce any policy move that may impact voters' decision. The Election Commission said all political advertisements on social media will need pre-certification.

10/03/2019 18:35:55

Commission has also directed political parties/candidates to desist from using environmentally hazardous publicity material&promote usage of eco friendly substances for preparation of election campaign material, this is a kind of appeal to everybody: CEC

10/03/2019 18:01:49

Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal, Odisha and Sikkim to be held with Lok Sabha polls. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir not to be held along with Lok Sabha polls due to security reasons.

10/03/2019 18:00:36

Phase 1 polling in- Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand.

10/03/2019 17:56:41

Phase 2 of Lok Sabha Election 2019: Issue of gazette notification- 19th March; Last day of nomination- 26th March; Date for scrutiny of nomination- 27th March; Last date of withdrawal- 29th March; Date of Poll- 18th April

10/03/2019 17:56:33

Phase 1 of Lok Sabha Election2019: Issue of gazette notification- 18th March; Last day of nomination- 25th March Date for scrutiny of nomination- 26th March; Last date of withdrawal- 28th March; Date of Poll- 11th April

10/03/2019 17:47:06

Phase 1 in 91 constituencies in 20 states; Phase 2 in 97 constituencies in 13 states; Phase 3 in 115 constituencies in 14 states; Phase 4 in 71 constituencies in 9 states; Phase 5 in 51 constituencies in 7 states; Phase 6 in 59 constituencies in 7 states; Phase 7 in 59 constituencies in 8 states

10/03/2019 17:43:59

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal to go to polls in all seven phases.

10/03/2019 17:35:36

1st phase polling to be held on 11th April, 2nd phase on 18th April, 3rd phase on 23rd April, 4th phase polling to be held on 29th April, 5th phase polling on 6th May, 6th phase polling on 12th May, 7th phase 19th May. Counting of all phases on 23rd May.

10/03/2019 17:34:29

Lok Sabha elections to be held in seven phases, results on May 23: CEC

10/03/2019 17:24:02

10 lakhs polling stations to be set up for Lok Sabha polls against nine lakhs in 2014: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

10/03/2019 17:23:02

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into effect from today itself in the entire country. Any violation will be dealt with in the strictest manner: CEC Sunil Arora

10/03/2019 17:17:25

VVPATs will be used with EVMs at all polling stations in this election: CEC Sunil Arora

10/03/2019 17:17:14

Several rounds of discussions were held with Home Ministry, Railways and different departments and our teams visited states to ensure smooth conducting of polls. Examination schedule has been kept in mind to avoid inconvenience to students: Sunil Arora, CEC

10/03/2019 17:15:12

As many as 90 crore electors, including 1.5 crore new voters aged 18-19 years, are registered to vote in the Lok Sabha polls 2019: CEC Sunil Arora

10/03/2019 17:12:11

The term of 16th Lok Sobha ends on 3rd of June, says Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora

10/03/2019 17:01:35

Chief Elction Commissioner Sunil Arora addresses the media at the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

10/03/2019 16:50:27

The 2014 Lok Sabha election, which brought to power the Modi-led BJP ending 10 years of Congress-led UPA rule, was spread over nine phases -- from April 7 to May 12. The votes were counted on May 16, 2014.

10/03/2019 16:47:56

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is again spearheading the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign to retain power against an opposition that wants to end his rule but is still struggling to overcome the many differences within.

10/03/2019 16:43:13

When the Lok Sabha schedule is announced on Sunday evening, the model code of conduct will come into effect immediately.

10/03/2019 16:41:55

The poll panel on Saturday conducted a review meeting as part of its preparations for the staggered elections to elect 543 members to the Lok Sabha. Two members are nominated.

10/03/2019 16:38:53

The schedule for Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also likely to be announced.

10/03/2019 16:37:56

The Election Commission will be declaring the election dates at a press conference at the Vigyan Bhavan at 5 p.m.