Twitter
Advertisement

Complete coverage of 9-phase election schedule spread over 36-days

A 9-phase election schedule spread over 36-days to choose 16th Lok Sabha was announced by the Election Commission on Wednesday. While the polling dates are spread over from April 7 to May 12, the counting will take place on a single day on May 16.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

A 9-phase election schedule spread over 36-days to choose 16th Lok Sabha was announced by the Election Commission on Wednesday. While the polling dates are spread over from April 7 to May 12, the counting will take place on a single day on May 16. Chief election commissioner V S Sampath announced the model code of conduct has come into effect immediately, warning the ruling party in the centre and states not to take decision to disturb the level playing field.

Very few constituencies are going to poll on April 7 (6 in 2 states), April 9 (7 in five states) and April 12 (5 seats in 3 states). But in other phases a large number of seats are going to polls: April 10 (92 in 14 states), April 17 (122 in 13 states), April 24 (117 in 112 states), April 30 (89 in 9 states, May 7 (64 seats in 7 states) and May 12 (41 in 3 states).

Three state assemblies Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim that are completing their terms will also have the simultaneous polls along with the Lok Sabha elections and so will be 23 by-elections to eight state assemblies, including seven in Gujarat, six in West Bengal, four in Uttar Pradesh, and one each in Madhya Pradesh (Vidisha) and Maharashtra (Risod). Vidisha goes to polls on April 24 and Risod on April 10.

The unbifurcated Andhra Pradesh will go for the due Assembly polls on April 30 and May 7, Odisha Assembly polls on April 10 and 17 while Sikkim is the third state to have simultaneous Assembly polls on April 12 along with the Lok Sabha elections. As regards bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Sampath said the commission is holding the elections while there is a seamless arrangement for creation of two states on the Appointed Date of June 2 notified by the government under the Andhra Pradesh reorganisation Act.

The large states Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the polls on six days, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir on five days while it will be on three days in Assam, Jharkhand as also in both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on April 10, 17 and 24. Gujarat will have a one-day poll on April 30 and so will be both Goa and neighbouring Karnataka on April 17 while Rajasthan will have polling in two phases on April 17 and 24. Delhi has polling on April 10 while Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on April 24. Some 10 crore more voters are enrolled for 2014 election than in 2009, making the total electorate at 81.4 crore. Those who have not yet enrolled have been given a final choice to enrol themselves on March 9, at 9 lakh booths across the country.

Sampath said several factors, including the security aspects, the examination schedule and weather conditions, early monsoon in some areas and very hot summer in other areas, while deciding the election schedule. Large number of booths are set up in schools and hence the school examinations are kept in mind. As regards Naxal areas, Election Commissioner H S Brahma said all such areas in various states will have polls on a single day.

There will be 9.30 lakh polling stations in this election, which an increase of 12 per cent over the last election's 8.30 lakh. Sampath took pride in noting that 98.64 voters now have the photo identity cards issued by the Election Commission.

The voters will get a voter slip at their doorsteps three to seven days before the actual polls, listing his details and the booth where they have to vote to increase the voting percentage and at the same time reducing their dependence on the political parties whose volunteers usually distribute such slips at home and also near the polling booths on the day of the polls.

Asked why the polls in so many phases unlike in the past it used to be five or six phases, Sampath claimd the Election Commission had actually reduced the number of days from the day of announcement to completion of the polls from 75 days in 2009 to 72 days. Moreover, there is not much gap in some polling dates, done as per the local requirements.

On use of the black money in the elections, the CEC said expenditure observers and flying squads will be on their toes since "money power remains the biggest challenge in some states." On use of abusive language in the poll campaign, he said there should be no doubt that the model code available to the commission as the instrument is quite effective. His colleague Brahma said the Election Commission would like to appeal to all through the media to use the language that does not hurt others. The Chief Election Commission, however, expressed helplessness to ban opinion and exit polls, saying it was for the government to take decision. “We have recommended to ban opinion and exit polls in the past. But, they (government) preferred to ban exit polls and not opinion polls,” he said.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement