The dates for the much-anticipated Lok Sabha 2024 election are likely to be announced on March 14 or 15. The elections could be held in seven phases like 2019 and voting for the first phase may take place in the second week of April, sources told ABP News. The Model Code of Conduct is likely to be in force from March 14.
The last elections held in 2019, which saw the BJP clinching victory for the second time with a whopping 303 seats, were also held in seven phases. Meanwhile, the Congress managed to win only 52 seats. While this time PM Modi has set the target for BJP alone at 370 seats and 400 for the NDA, he prayed the Congress crossed at least 40 seats.
The BJP has already released its first list of 195 candidates which saw the names of several top guns as the party gears up to clinch its third term led by PM Modi. In the first list, the saffron party fielded two former chief ministers -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Biplab Kumar Deb.
Meanwhile, the Congress has said that it is still deliberating on its candidates as seat-sharing talks are underway with their I.N.D.I.A alliance members. It said that it would take its time to decide on the names and not be in a rush like the BJP.
Along with the Lok Sabha polls, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Haryana and Maharashtra will also go for polls in 2024.
As the polls inch closer, teams of the Election Commission have visited Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the preparation. The full bench of the poll body was recently in Bengal after the state was rocked by the Sandeshkhali violence and held talks with representatives of political parties as well as government officials to review the law and order situation in the state.