The national election will be held in seven rounds from 11 April and the results will be announced on May 23, the Election Commission said on Sunday.
The Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) Sunil Arora announced the election dates.
“The first phase of Lok Sabha poll will be held on April 11,covering 91 constituencies in 20 states.The second phase of polling will be held on 18 April 23 in 115 constituencies in 14 states,”he said.
Voting will be held across India on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the election announcement and urged everyone to utilise their voting power maximum.
Best wishes to the Election Commission, all those officials and security personnel who will be on the field, across the length and breadth of India assuring smooth elections. India is very proud of the EC for assiduously organising elections for several years.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 10 March 2019
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 10 March 2019
The opposition Congress had accused the Election Commission of delaying the dates to enable the government to rush through the launch of welfare schemes and projects; no announcements can be made once the model code of conduct kicks in with the election dates. Commission sources have rubbished the claims.
The Lok Sabha polls of 2014 also held in nine-phases with the election schedule announced on March 5.The electoral exercise was spread over the months of April and May with the first phase of polling taking place on April 7,and the least phase being on May 12.
The BJP had won 282 seats in the 2014 General Elections,giving them a simple majority in the Lower House of Parliament.The BJP led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) had won 336 seats out of 543,whereas congress won only 44 seats.
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