The nomination process for 102 parliamentary constituencies, spanning 21 states and Union territories, scheduled for polling in the inaugural phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, commenced on Wednesday with an official notification.
As per the notification issued by the Election Commission on behalf of the President, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is set for March 27.
However, in observance of a festival, March 28 has been designated as the final date for filing nominations specifically for the Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, slated for polling in the initial phase. Among Bihar's 40 seats, voting for four will take place in the first phase. The scrutiny of nomination papers will occur on March 28, with Bihar's process slated for March 30.
The window for withdrawal of candidature closes on March 20, except for Bihar, where it extends until April 2. Voting for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19, followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, while the vote count will take place on June 4.
States slated for polling in the first phase encompass Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
| State | Number of Seats |
| Tamil Nadu | 39 |
| Rajasthan | 12 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 8 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 6 |
| Uttarakhand | 5 |
| Assam | 5 |
| Maharashtra | 5 |
| Bihar | 4 |
| West Bengal | 3 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2 |
| Manipur | 2 |
| Meghalaya | 2 |
| Chhattisgarh | 1 |
| Mizoram | 1 |
| Nagaland | 1 |
| Sikkim | 1 |
| Tripura | 1 |
| Andaman and Nicobar | 1 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 1 |
| Lakshadweep | 1 |
| Puducherry | 1 |
