New Delhi, March 16: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced dates for a seven-phase Lok Sabha election setting the stage for the big electoral battle.

Assembly elections to four states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim and also bypolls to 26 assembly constituencies across various states will be held along with the Lok Sabha elections.

As per the poll schedule, election to Andhra Pradesh assembly will be held on May 13, 2024. In Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, assembly elections will be held on April 19. Elections to Odisha legislative assembly will take place in four phases on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

All votes will be counted on June 4, 2024.

While the first phase of Lok Sabha election will be held on April 19, the last phase of the election will take place on June 1.

The first phase of Lok Sabha election would cover 102 parliamentary constituencies spread across 21 states and Union Territories (UTs). In the second phase on April 26, a total of 89 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states will go to polls.

The third, fourth and fifth phase of elections will be held on May 7, May 13 and May 20 respectively. In these phases, 239 parliamentary constituencies will be covered.

The sixth and seventh phase would take place on May 25 and June 1 covering 114 Lok Sabha seats.

Polling in the key state of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal will take place in seven phases. Elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases.

There are 543 parliamentary constituencies in total out of which 84 are reserved for SCs and 47 for STs.

With the announcement of the poll dates, the model code of conduct has come into force.

The term of 17th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 16th June, 2024. The term of legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also expiring in June this year.

Announcing the poll dates, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that there are 96.8 electorates in the country of which 49.7 crore are male and 47.1 crore are female.

“There are 88.4 lakh persons with disabilities who are part of our voter list. There are 82 lakh voters who are above 85 years of age. The number of voters above 100 years is 2.18 lakh. There are 48,000 trans-genders (on voter list),” Kumar said.

Responding to questions from the media, Kumar dismissed concerns around EVMs saying they are “100% safe”.

In the Lok Sabha election, ruling BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi would this time seek third consecutive term in office. The party had bagged 303 seats in the last Lok Sabha election.

The Congress party is being seen as the major challenger to the BJP. The party had secured 52 seats in the last general election.

UNI