Lok Sabha polls in seven phases from April 19

THE Lok Sabha elections for 543 seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, and the results will be announced on June 4. The Election Commission made the announcement on Friday.

"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," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said.

Assembly elections will be held in Andhra Pradesh on May 13, in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on April 19. Odisha will vote in two phases on May 13 and May 20. Bypolls on 26 Assembly seats will also be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

"We have 97 crore registered voters, 10.5 lah polling stations, 1.5 crore polling officials and security staff, 55 lakhs EVMs, 4 lakh vehicles," the Chief Election Commissioner says.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says, "We have 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years."

Political parties must ensure responsible social media behaviour and originators of fake news to be dealt with severely, says the Election Commission.

"In 12 states the ratio of women voters is higher than men voters," the Chief Election Commissioner says. "We have a total of 96.8 crore electors," the CEC says.

"We are also very conscious about sustainable elections as a part of our responsibility towards the environment. That's why we have issued directions to our election machinery," says Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

"There is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections. From wherever we will receive the information of violence, we will take action against them," the Election Commission says. Non-bailable warrants will be issued in case of violence.

"Political parties will have to explain why they gave a ticket to a candidate with a criminal background, and candidates with a criminal record will have to publish information three times in newspapers and other media outlets," the Election Commission says.

"There will be a strict vigil over illicit online cash transfers and suspicious transactions through payment wallets," says Chief Election Commissioner.

The Election Commission also states that there will be drone-based checking at the borders, and there will be a 24x7 integrated control room in districts.

The Election Commission also tells parties to maintain decorum during campaigning, refraining from abuses and personal attacks. "We should not say something against a rival that we regret later, as foes often become friends these days," says CEC Rajiv Kumar.

The Election Commission announced 'vote-from-home' facilities for citizens above 85 years old and persons with disabilities for the Lok Sabha elections. Transport facilities will be arranged for persons with disabilities, and special arrangements for the elderly will be made. The Saksham app will provide special facilities at polling stations.

Below are the state-wise Lok Sabha Seats for the Parliamentary Elections 2024:  

Andhra Pradesh - 25 Seats
Arunachal Pradesh - 2 Seats 
Assam - 14 Seats 
Bihar - 40 Seats
Chhattisgarh - 11 Seats
Goa - 2 Seats 
Gujarat - 26 Seats
Haryana - 10 Seats
Himachal Pradesh - 4 Seats 
Jharkhand -14 Seats 
Karnataka - 28 Seats
Kerala - 20 Seats 
Madhya Pradesh - 29 Seats 
Maharashtra - 48 Seats 
Manipur - 2 Seats 
Meghalaya - 2 Seats 
Mizoram - 1 Seat 
Nagaland - 1 Seat 
Odisha - 21 Seats 
Punjab - 13 Seats 
Rajasthan - 25 Seats
Sikkim - 1 Seat 
Tamil Nadu - 39 Seats
Tripura - 2 Seats
Uttarakhand - 5 Seats 
Uttar Pradesh - 80 Seats 
West Bengal - 42 Seats

Andaman and Nicobar - 1 Seat 
Dadra and Nagar Haveli - 1 Seat
Daman and Diu - 1 Seat 
Jammu and Kashmir - 6 Seats 
Chandigarh - 1 Seat 
Delhi - 7 Seats

State-wise schedule for Lok Sabha election 2024

Phase    States and UTs    Constituencies

April 19    Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Puducherry    102

April 26    Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir    89

May 7    Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir    94

May 13    Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir    96

May 20    Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh    49

May 25    Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi    57

June 1    Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chandigarh    57