The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the full schedule of the
Lok Sabha election 2024. The ECI has announced the election dates for four state assemblies, and by-elections for 26 assembly seats.
As per the schedule, the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be conducted in seven phases, beginning from April 19 to June 1. Chief
Election Commission (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced that the counting of votes and declaration of results will be done on June 4.
After the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the BJP-NDA is fully prepared for elections.
“The biggest festival of democracy is here! EC has announced the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates. We, the BJP-NDA, are fully prepared for elections. We are going to the people based on our track record of good governance and service delivery across sectors,” wrote PM Modi on X.
Adding to the thread, PM Modi further recounted the scams during the previous regime. On the other hand, he also mentioned the welfare scheme launched by the BJP-led NDA government.
Apart from PM Modi, several other political leaders across party lines reacted to the announcement of the poll schedule by the Election Commission.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Seven (phases) means nearly all development work will be stopped, and stopping for nearly 70-80 days means you can imagine how the country will progress because as per the election code of conduct, people will not move, the material will not be supplied, the budget will not be spent, so this, according to me, is not good.”
After the ECI declared the schedule, Madhya Pradesh BJP President VD Sharma told ANI, “I thank the Election Commission for announcing the dates for the biggest festival of democracy in the world. In Madhya Pradesh, elections will be held in four phases, and in all these phases BJP will make history under the leadership of PM Modi.”
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “Preparations in Uttarakhand have been fully completed. The Uttarakhand govt has done all the preparations. The people of Uttarakhand consider PM Modi as part of their family. In Uttarakhand, BJP will win 5 out of 5 seats.”
Goa Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant highlighted the state’s preparations for the upcoming election. He said, “The elections will start from April 19, and in Goa, elections have been announced on May 7, I welcome this announcement.”
Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha highlighted the stretched election period.
“Chief Election Commissioner has announced the dates...compared to last time, the election period has extended till June this time...in the past few years, we had given several complaints to EC but no discussions ever took place. The biggest threats to democracy are money power, which we saw on electoral bonds and hate speech,” Jha said.
He added, “EC shouldn't be biased, whether it is a normal party worker or Prime Minister, senior opposition leader or Home Minister.”
The voting for the first phase will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1.
The Assembly polls in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh will also be held alongside Lok Sabha elections.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
