Shimla, Mar 16
The Election commission of India today announced the schedule for Lok sabha polls as well four assembly polls and 26 assembly Bye polls. All the polls will held simultaneously, stated Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election commissioner of India.
In a media meet he said that Lok sabha polls will be held in seven phases. Different phases polling to start from April 19, the last phase of polls will be held on June 1, 2024. Counting and declaration of results is expected on June 4, he stated.
First phase of polls to be held on April, 19, followed by phase 2 on April, 26, stated Kumar. He added that phase 3 will be held on May 5, phase four on May 13, followed by phase five on May 20. Phase 6 will be conducted on May 25 with last and seventh phase on June 1, he confirmed.
Interestingly amongst the 26 assembly bye polls, covering 13 states the six assembly seats of Himachal Pradesh have also been taken. These seats went vacant after six Congress MLAs were suspended from the party due to not adhering to the party whip twice. Taking action the Speaker of Vidhan sabha had disqualified these six MLAs. However later the six dissident MLAs have knocked the doors of Supreme court and the matter is due for a hearing on March 18.
Meanwhile for the Lok sabha polls, Kumar added that in the first phase wherein polling will be conducted in 102 constituencies, the date of notification shall be March 20, and the polling will be done on April 19. This phase will cover 21 states and 102 seats.
The phase two of the polls will notified on March 26, and polls will be held on April, 26 on 89 seats. Phase 3 notification to be issued on April 12, with polling to be held on May 5 covering 12 states and 94 constituencies.
He said that in Phase 4 a total of 96 constituencies would be covered. Notifications to be issued on April 18 and polling to be held on May 13. Similarly in phase 5 April 26 as the notification date with polling to be held on May 20 on 49 seats.
In phase 6 covering 57 constituencies to be held in Bengal Bihar, Orrisa, and other states, the date of polling would e May 25, with notification date as April 29.
In Phase 7 the polling to be held on June 1 and the notification issuing date shall be May 5. This phase will cover 57 constituencies mainly in Punjab, Haryana and other northern states.
Himachal Pradesh with four Lok Sabha seats, the notification will be issued on May 7. The date of polling would be June 1, which is also the last 7th phase of polling.
There are a total of 543 Lok Sabha seats, of which 84 are reserved for Scheduled castes and 47reserved for scheduled tribes, stated Kumar.
Talking about the four assembly polls, Kumar stated they will start from April 19, and end by June 1. The four states are Andra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Orrisa. In Andra the notification to be issued on April 18, an polling to be done on May 13, he stated.
In Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim both, notification will be issued on March 20 with polling to be done on April 19. He said that Orrisa will go for assembly poll on June 1, with notification to be issued in April.
Stay tuned, as more to follow.
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