CEC Rajiv Kumar Announces Lok Sabha Election Dates 2024; Polling Dates for Each State Revealed

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, heading the Election Commission of India, unveiled the dates for the much-anticipated Lok Sabha elections 2024. The election extravaganza for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will span seven phases, starting from April 19, as announced by CEC Rajiv Kumar on Saturday.

The election juggernaut will roll out from the eastern states, with most of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim going to polls in the first phase on April 19. This electoral marathon will witness assembly polls taking place simultaneously in these four states. Additionally, by-elections are slated in states like Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Tripura.

The Model Code of Conduct, a set of guidelines binding political parties, candidates, and the government, has swiftly come into effect after the momentous declaration of the election schedule. This ensures that all electoral activities adhere to the regulated norms set by the Election Commission of India.

Categorically divided polling schedules have been charted out for the various states to ensure the efficient conduct of the mammoth democratic exercise. From a single polling date encompassing 22 states, the schedule expands into multiple polling dates for a few states, culminating in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal undergoing the electoral process over seven phases.

The grand finale of this electoral odyssey will witness the counting of votes on June 4, 2024, sealing the fate of the aspiring candidates and parties vying for representation in the esteemed Lok Sabha.