Lok Sabha Elections HIGHLIGHTS: Hemant Soren's Sister-In-Law, Sita Soren Resigns From JMM
Lok Sabha Polls HIGHLIGHTS: Please follow this space for all the latest news and information about the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
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Lok Sabha Polls Live: Hello and welcome to Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live Blog, please follow this space for all the latest news and information about the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
The Election Commission unveiled the schedule for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections during a press conference on Saturday. The apex poll body declared that the general assembly polls would span from April 19 to June 1, 2024, encompassing seven phases. Vote counting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections is scheduled for June 4.
Polling is set to occur across all seven phases in Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, while Maharashtra will witness voting in five phases. Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan will undergo polling in four, two, and two phases, respectively. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh will each conduct elections in a single phase.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, in a press conference held in the national capital, also divulged the polling dates for assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim.
The initial phase of polling, slated for April 19, 2024, will encompass 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories. Subsequent phases will follow on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, covering various states and Union Territories.
Arunachal Pradesh will conduct assembly elections alongside Lok Sabha polling on April 19, while Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will have assembly polls on May 13 and May 20. Sikkim's assembly elections coincide with Lok Sabha polling on April 19.
Approximately 97 crore Indians are eligible to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, indicating a 6% rise in registered voters since 2019, according to the Election Commission.
CEC Rajiv Kumar highlighted the challenges ahead, termed 'the 4Ms', which include Money power, Muscle power, Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations, and Misinformation.
The Election Commission introduced a 'Know Your Candidate' (KYC) app to enable voters to check candidates' criminal backgrounds. Parties nominating candidates with criminal records are required to justify their decision, while candidates must disclose relevant information publicly.
Encouraging vigilance among voters, Rajiv Kumar introduced the cVigil app for reporting cases of cash distribution or inducements, promising prompt action within 100 minutes.
The CEC stressed on abstaining from using children in campaigning and prohibited advertisements disguised as news. He expressed concerns over the declining level of public discourse and issued advisories against inflammatory statements and personal attacks, in line with the Model Code of Conduct.
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