2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Here Are The Dates And Important Details Announced By Election Commission

Amid heightened poll heat among the political parties, the Election Commission Of India (ECI) today (March 16) announced the 2024 Lok Sabha election date. The elections will begin on April 19 and the result will be out by June 4. The elections will be held in seven phases, the Chief election commissioner said during the press conference.

The first phase will be held on April 19 and then the second phase on April, 26, the third phase on April 7th, 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 general election of 2019 was held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The date of which was announced on March 10 and the results were released by May 10, leading to the historic victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party with a massive majority. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw a voter turnout of over 67 per cent, the highest ever. In 2014, the Lok Sabha election was held in nine phases. In the last Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP scored a whopping 303 seats while the Congress was reduced to only 52 seats. The term of the current Lok Sabha would end by June 16. This time, the saffron party has set a target of 370 seats while the NDA, the BJP-led alliance set a 400-seat target. 

For the Congress party, the election will be an opportunity to revive the grand old party’s spirit and it is hoping to return to power after a decade. Notably, Rahul Gandhi will conclude his iconic Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra tomorrow (March 17) with a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The rally is expected to sound the poll bugle of the Lok Sabha elections, sparking spirits among workers. 

In its comprehensive explanation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the chief election commissioner elaborated on the preparedness to hold free and fair elections. Talking about the conduct of the election, the commissioner said it has adopted measures to deal with issues. “We will be ruthless if violence takes place anywhere during polls,” said Rajiv Kumar. 

The commissioner has cautioned about the violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which came into immediate effect. The guidelines regulate political parties and candidates during the election campaigns. It monitors the speeches, election manifestos, behaviours in polling booths and other campaigning conducts to ensure free and fair elections.