Lok Sabha Elections: With all political parties already in campaign mode, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday announced the dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at a press briefing in the national capital, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that polling for Lok Sabha seats would be held from April 19 to June 1 across 7 phases. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.
Sharing details of the poll schedule, the CEC said that voting in the sixth phase will be held in 57 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and some regions of north. The gazette notification will be issued on April 29 and the polling will take place on May 25. In the sixth phase, voting will take place in 57 constituencies spread across seven states/UTs. Polling in two more states/UTs would be completed with this phase.
Polling will be held in all seven phases in three states - Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, while Maharashtra will vote in five phases. Madhya Pradesh will witness voting in four phases. Karnataka and Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases, while Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh will vote in a single phase.
The tenure of the present Lok Sabha is set to end on June 16 and a new House will have to be constituted before that. With the announcement of election dates, the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect.
The CEC said the poll authority is prepared to counter the challenges of four ‘M's – muscle power, money power, misinformation and Model Code of Conduct violations. "I would appeal to parties to maintain decorum during the campaign and refrain from personal attacks," Kumar said.
The CEC said children should not be used in campaigning and the poll watchdog will be very strict on that account. He also said advertisements masquerading as news will not be allowed.