Lok Sabha polls to be held in seven phases from April 11, results on May 23
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The polling dates over the seven phases are April 11, April 18, April 23, May 6, May 12, and May 19. The votes will be counted on May 23.
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections are to be held in seven phases starting April 11. The announcement was made Sunday by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.
The polling dates over the seven phases are April 11, April 18, April 23, May 6, May 12, and May 19. All votes will be counted on May 23.
Arora said Sunday that 91 constituencies would go to the polls in the first phase, 97 in the second, 115 in the third, 71 in the fourth, 51 in the fifth, 59 in the sixth, and 59 in the seventh and last phase.
He added that assembly polls would be held along with the Lok Sabha polls in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
#LokSabhaElection2019: Phase1 polling in- Andhra, Arunachal, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andaman&Nicobar, Dadra&Nagar Haveli, Daman&Diu, Lakshadweep, Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/oyPRgeUAMK
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2019
Sunil Arora, Chief Election Commissioner: Total electorate in this Lok Sabha elections will be 900 million, of which 15 million voters are in the 18-19 age group. pic.twitter.com/LyqvJtu3gQ
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2019
It had been speculated that simultaneous polls would also be held in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections, after the dissolution of the state assembly, have to be held in the state before the end of May but Arora said Sunday that polls would not be held in J&K along with the Lok Sabha elections.
Arora said Sunday that 900 million people would be eligible to vote in 2019, with 15 million of them being in the age group of 18 to 19 years.
Arora added that a total of 10 lakh polling booths would be put up for the elections (an increase of 1 lakh from the 2014 elections) and that VVPAT machines (used to detect election fraud) would be housed in all polling booths.
Arora added Sunday that the model code of conduct was now in effect.
Among other things, the code bars the government from announcing policy decisions.
After the chief election commissioner's announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished "all political parties and candidates the very best for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections".
Wishing all political parties and candidates the very best for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 10, 2019
We may belong to different parties but our aim must be the same- the development of India and empowerment of every Indian!
The last five years have shown that with the blessings and participation of 130 crore Indians, what was earlier deemed impossible has now become possible.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 10, 2019
2019 polls are about a spirit of confidence and positivity with which India is fulfilling the aspirations of its people.
He tweeted that "we may belong to different parties but our aim must be the same — the development of India and empowerment of every Indian!"