This Article is From Mar 11, 2019

Election Body Announces Lok Sabha Dates, Parties React: Updates

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3.

Election Body Announces Lok Sabha Dates, Parties React: Updates

2019 Election Date Announcement: Lok Sabha Elections will be held in seven phases.

New Delhi:

Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and will be held over seven phases followed by counting of votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced today. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said the model code of conduct would come into immediate effect from Sunday and 10 lakhs polling stations would be set up this time as against about nine lakhs in 2014.

Shortly after the national election dates were announced on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets, "The festival of democracy, elections are here." "I urge my fellow Indians to enrich the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with their active participation. I hope this election witnesses a historic turnout. I particularly call upon first time voters to vote in record numbers," tweeted PM Modi.

The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3. As soon as the elections are announced, the model code of conduct will come into force. 

The required electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are in place to be deployed in nearly 10 lakh poling stations across 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Here are the Updates on Lok Sabha Elections dates announcement: 

Mar 10, 2019 20:05 (IST)
The schedule of phase 5, 6 and 7 Lok Sabha Elections: 

Mar 10, 2019 19:34 (IST)
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal To Not Contest
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said on Sunday that he will not contest Lok Sabha election on account of his organizational responsibilities. Mr Venugopal, who represents Kerala's Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency, said he has communicated his decision to party leadership in the state."
Mar 10, 2019 19:07 (IST)
What political leaders said:

Mar 10, 2019 18:54 (IST)
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has welcomed the announcement of dates for the national elections.

The Samajwadi Party leader tweeted:
Mar 10, 2019 18:45 (IST)
See when your state votes

Phase 1 (April 11)

Andhra Pradesh: 25 seats
Arunachal Pradesh: 2 seats
Assam: 5 seats
Bihar: 4 seats
Chhattisgarh: 1 seat
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats
Maharashtra: 7 seats
Manipur: 1 seat
Meghalaya: 2 seats
Mizoram: 1 seat
Nagaland: 1 seat
Odisha: 4 seats
Sikkim: 1 seat
Telangana: 17 seats
Tripura: 1 seat
Uttar Pradesh: 10 seats
Uttarakhand: 5 seats
West Bengal: 2 seats
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 1 seat
Lakshadweep: 1 seat

Phase 2 (April 18)

Assam: 5 seats
Bihar: 5 seats
Chhattisgarh: 3 seats
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats
Karnataka: 14 seats
Maharashtra: 10 seats
Manipur: 1 seat
Odisha: 5 seats
Tamil Nadu: 39 seats
Tripura: 1 seat
Uttar Pradesh: 8 seats
West Bengal: 3 seats
Puducherry: 1 seat

Phase 3 (April 23)

Assam: 4 seats
Bihar: 5 seats
Chhattisgarh: 7 seats
Gujarat: 26 seats
Goa: 2
Jammu and Kashmir: 1 seat
Karnataka: 14 seats
Kerala: 20 seats
Maharashtra: 14 seats
Odisha: 6 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 10 seats
West Bengal: 5 seats
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: 1 seat
Daman and Diu: 1 seat

Phase 4 (April 29)

Bihar: 5 seats
Jammu and Kashmir: 1 seat
Jharkhand: 3 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 6 seats
Maharashtra: 17 seats
Odisha: 6 seats
Rajasthan: 13 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats
West Bengal: 8 seats

Phase 5 (May 6)

Bihar: 5 seats
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats
Jharkhand: 4 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 7 seats
Rajasthan: 12 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 14 seats
West Bengal: 7 seats

Phase 6 (May 12)

Bihar: 8 seats
Haryana: 10 seats
Jharkhand: 4 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 8 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 14 seats
West Bengal: 8 seats
Delhi: 7 seats

Phase 7 (May 19)

Bihar: 8 seats
Jharkhand: 3 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 8 seats
Punjab: 13 seats
West Bengal: 9 seats
Chandigarh: 1 seat
Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats
Himachal Pradesh: 4 seats
Mar 10, 2019 18:43 (IST)
Mar 10, 2019 18:42 (IST)
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana will vote on April 11, Tamil Nadu on April 18
Mar 10, 2019 18:37 (IST)
Mar 10, 2019 18:31 (IST)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the people to overthrow the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha elections, beginning April 11.

Calling the Narendra Modi government the "most dictatorial" government in history of the country, he said: "Ultimately back to We the people -the real power of our democracy. Time to throw out the most dictatorial and anti-federal govt in the history of India. Time to seek answers on demonetisation, jobs, destruction of traders n destroying brotherhood amongst different communities".
Mar 10, 2019 18:21 (IST)
Mar 10, 2019 18:21 (IST)
Lok Sabha polls in northeastern states will be held in three phases in April

The Lok Sabha polls in the eight northeastern states will be held in three phases in April - 11, 18 and 23rd.

While polling in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim will be held in a single phase, polling in Manipur and Tripura will be held in two phases and polling in Assam will be held in three phases.
Mar 10, 2019 18:17 (IST)
Mar 10, 2019 18:12 (IST)
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that the national elections have not been held on time in Jammu and Kashmir since 1996. 

In a series of tweets, the National Conference leader criticised the delay for holding assembly polls. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has said that only parliamentary elections will be held for now.

Mar 10, 2019 18:05 (IST)
Mar 10, 2019 17:55 (IST)
No state polls in Jammu and Kashmir for now, only parliamentary elections, announces Election Commission
Mar 10, 2019 17:52 (IST)
Mar 10, 2019 17:49 (IST)
States and number of constituencies voting

Phase 1 (April 11)

Andhra Pradesh: 25 seats
Arunachal Pradesh: 2 seats
Assam: 5 seats
Bihar: 4 seats
Chhattisgarh: 1 seat
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats
Maharashtra: 7 seats
Manipur: 1 seat
Meghalaya: 2 seats
Mizoram: 1 seat
Nagaland: 1 seat
Odisha: 4 seats
Sikkim: 1 seat
Telangana: 17 seats
Tripura: 1 seat
Uttar Pradesh: 10 seats
Uttarakhand: 5 seats
West Bengal: 2 seats
Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 1 seat
Lakshadweep: 1 seat

Phase 2 (April 18)

Assam: 5 seats
Bihar: 5 seats
Chhattisgarh: 3 seats
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats
Karnataka: 14 seats
Maharashtra: 10 seats
Manipur: 1 seat
Odisha: 5 seats
Tamil Nadu: 39 seats
Tripura: 1 seat
Uttar Pradesh: 8 seats
West Bengal: 3 seats
Puducherry: 1 seat

Phase 3 (April 23)

Assam: 4 seats
Bihar: 5 seats
Chhattisgarh: 7 seats
Gujarat: 26 seats
Goa: 2
Jammu and Kashmir: 1 seat
Karnataka: 14 seats
Kerala: 20 seats
Maharashtra: 14 seats
Odisha: 6 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 10 seats
West Bengal: 5 seats
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: 1 seat
Daman and Diu: 1 seat

Phase 4 (April 29)

Bihar: 5 seats
Jammu and Kashmir: 1 seat
Jharkhand: 3 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 6 seats
Maharashtra: 17 seats
Odisha: 6 seats
Rajasthan: 13 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats
West Bengal: 8 seats

Phase 5 (May 6)

Bihar: 5 seats
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats
Jharkhand: 4 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 7 seats
Rajasthan: 12 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 14 seats
West Bengal: 7 seats

Phase 6 (May 12)

Bihar: 8 seats
Haryana: 10 seats
Jharkhand: 4 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 8 seats
Uttar Pradesh: 14 seats
West Bengal: 8 seats
Delhi: 7 seats

Phase 7 (May 19)

Bihar: 8 seats
Jharkhand: 3 seats
Madhya Pradesh: 8 seats
Punjab: 13 seats
West Bengal: 9 seats
Chandigarh: 1 seat
Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats
Himachal Pradesh: 4 seats
Mar 10, 2019 17:44 (IST)
22 states will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha Polls, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.
Mar 10, 2019 17:37 (IST)
Mar 10, 2019 17:37 (IST)
Phase 5 and 6 voting 6 May and 19 May respectively, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.
Mar 10, 2019 17:33 (IST)
Phase 2 and 3 voting 18 April and 23 April respectively, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.
Mar 10, 2019 17:31 (IST)
Lok Sabha elections to be held in 7 phases from April 7, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.

Results will be announced on May 23rd, he adds.
Mar 10, 2019 17:29 (IST)
Google, Facebook, YouTube have said all political ads will be certified, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.  

Mar 10, 2019 17:28 (IST)
Privacy of people who report violations will be protected and they will be informed of action taken, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says. 
Mar 10, 2019 17:22 (IST)
There will be extensive webcasting of sensitive voting booths. All critical events will be videographed, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.
Mar 10, 2019 17:22 (IST)
Voters can choose NOTA, voters will also be able to see candidates' photos. Ten lakh voting booths will be used this as compared to 9 lakh last time.
Mar 10, 2019 17:18 (IST)
10 per cent more voting booths this time, VVPATS in all of them, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.
Mar 10, 2019 17:18 (IST)
Strictest action will be taken against violations of model code of conduct, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says.
Mar 10, 2019 17:14 (IST)

  • We assured minimum facilities at all polling stations.
  • Efforts are also being made to make elections comfortable
Mar 10, 2019 17:10 (IST)
The Election Commission will ensure free,fair, inclusive polls: CEC

  • As you know, 16th Lok Sabha ends on June 3, 2019. 
  • The Election Commission will ensure free,fair, inclusive polls.
  • The scale and complexity of elections has grown over the years. 
  • We have held meetings with heads of various states, Union Territories
  • To ensure smooth conduct of elections, we held discussions with various departments including railways.
Mar 10, 2019 17:03 (IST)

Chief Election Commissoner Sunil Arora is addressing the media at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.
Mar 10, 2019 16:59 (IST)
In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, the BJP, became the first party in three decades to win a majority on its own; the BJP scooped 282 of the 543 seats in Lok Sabha, where the majority mark is 272. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 336 seats.
Mar 10, 2019 16:57 (IST)
Elections for the 543 Lok Sabha seats have to be held by May. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3.
Mar 10, 2019 16:36 (IST)
AAP launches mega campaign in Delhi

Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the dates for which will be announced by the Election Commission shortly, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched its mega campaign with the demand for full statehood at the centre. The party staged a protest near BJP headquarters in Delhi today. Tomorrow, the party will protest outside Congress headquarters on Akbar Road. 


Mar 10, 2019 16:15 (IST)
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar's re-entry into politics to be keenly watched in Lok Sabha elections: 

Veteran leader Sharad Pawar, who said he has quit electoral politics, will be up for election in the coming Lok Sabha polls, due by May. The 78-year-old will contest from Madha, the constituency he won in 2009.

Mr Pawar - the chief of Nationalist Congress Party -- had announced his retirement from electoral politics in 2012. 
Mar 10, 2019 15:44 (IST)
First parliamentary election for Andhra Pradesh

The state has 25 parliament and 175 assembly seats

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is making a bid for a second term in power, is also a key interlocutor of the opposition and has been trying to forge a united front against the BJP for months
Mar 10, 2019 15:13 (IST)
Punjab Pradesh Congress Screening Committee meets to shortlist candidates

The meeting of Punjab Pradesh Congress Screening Committee, comprising AICC Gen Sec (Organization) KC Venugopal; AICC In-Charge Punjab, Asha Kumari, Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh and PPCC President Sunil Jakhar, has begun. 

The meeting will shortlist names of candidates for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and forward the same to the Central Election Committee of AICC for finalization.

Mar 10, 2019 15:04 (IST)
Former Chief Election Commissioner of India SY Quraishi on poll dates: 

There is much speculation about election dates. 

Last three elections (2004, 2009 & 2014) were held from 20 Apr to 10 May (4 phases), 16 April to 13 May (5 phases)   and 7 April to 12 May (9 phases),  respectively.

The window available this time is still  similar. But not much.
Mar 10, 2019 14:39 (IST)
Poll Announcement In "Rahu Kaal" Worries Politicians From South
As the Election Commission today made it official that the dates for the national election would be announced at 5 pm, concerns were expressed by a few politicians - but entirely of the astrological kind.


Mar 10, 2019 13:36 (IST)
For Four States, Assembly Elections Also Likely With National Polls
Assembly elections in four states - Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha - are expected to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls this time. The term of the government sin all four states are set to end by April-May.

For Four States, Assembly Elections Also Likely With National Polls
Mar 10, 2019 12:41 (IST)
Following was the seat sharing for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections:

Party                                                            Seats won   Seats contested                
                                                                               
  • Bharatiya Janata Party                                         282                   428    
  • Indian National Congress                                      44                   464
  • All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam      37                     40
  • All India Trinamool Congress                              34                   131
  • Biju Janta Dal                                                       20                     21
  • Shiv Sena                                                             18                     58
  • Telugu Desam                                                      16                     30
  • Telangana Rashtra Samithi                                  11                      17
  • Communist Party Of India ( Marxist)                   9                      93
  • Yuvajana Shramik Rythu Congress Party             9                      38


Mar 10, 2019 12:39 (IST)
In 2014, PM Narendra Modi's BJP bagged majority on its own by winning 282 of the 543 seats in Lok Sabha.

Mar 10, 2019 12:24 (IST)
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in an election rally in Kendrapara announces 33% quota for women in allocation of Lok Sabha seats for the BJD party: news agency ANI
Mar 10, 2019 12:21 (IST)

Mar 10, 2019 12:21 (IST)
In 2014, the Election Commission had announced the election schedule on March 5 and the nine-phase electoral exercise was spread across April and May.

While the first phase polling was on April 7, the last phase was on May 12.
Mar 10, 2019 12:16 (IST)
Dates For National Election, State Polls To Be Announced Today: Sources
The dates for national elections and polls in four states will be announced by the Election Commission at 5 pm today, sources said.

Dates For National Election, Polls In 4 States To Be Announced At 5 pm
Mar 10, 2019 11:19 (IST)
The Election Commission of India will announce the dates for the upcoming national elections today at 5 pm.
Mar 10, 2019 10:59 (IST)
Election Commission to announce dates for national election and polls in four states at 5 pm today.
Mar 10, 2019 10:18 (IST)


PM Narendra Modi attends the 50th Raising Day of Central Industrial Security Force in New Delhi.

Mar 10, 2019 09:48 (IST)
Election Commission of India allots 'Battery Torch' as common symbol for Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam for upcoming General Elections.
Mar 10, 2019 09:30 (IST)
Another Congress Lawmaker In Telangana To Join KCR's Party
A week after two of its MLAs left the party and joined the ruling TRS, Congress in Telangana was dealt a further blow when its legislator from Nakrekal, Chirumarthi Lingaiah on Saturday announced that he would join the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.

Another Congress Lawmaker In Telangana To Join KCR's Party
Mar 10, 2019 09:29 (IST)
Gujarat Congress Lawmaker Made A Minister Hours After Joining BJP
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani Saturday expanded his cabinet by inducting three members, including former Congress lawmaker Jawahar Chavda, who was made a minister a day after he joined the BJP.

BJP lawmaker from Manjalpur of Vadodara district Yogesh Patel and Jamnagar West MLA Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, who had crossed over from Congress, were the other two members inducted into the cabinet.


Gujarat Congress Lawmaker Made A Minister Hours After Joining BJP
Mar 10, 2019 09:28 (IST)
"Keep Armed Forces Out Of Political Campaigns": Election Body To Parties
The notice was issued after billboards featuring BJP leaders such as Narendra Modi and Amit Shah along with Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman came up in certain parts of the national capital.

'Keep Armed Forces Out Of Political Campaigns': Election Body To Parties
Mar 10, 2019 09:26 (IST)
The Election Commission on Saturday asked political parties across the country to not use photographs of defence personnel on hoardings or posters in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
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