18th Lok Sabha polls scheduled for seven phases from April 19 to June 1; counting on June 4

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, involving 96.8 crore voters, with 21.5 crore young voters aged between 18 to 29 years old. The poll schedule for four state Assemblies and bypolls for 26 Assembly seats will also be held.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with new Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, stated that the elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with counting of votes on June 4. The Model Code of Conduct has also come into immediate effect.

The first phase of polling will begin on April 19, followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The 17th Lok Sabha’s tenure will end on June 16, marking the conclusion of the current parliamentary term.

Despite speculation, elections for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will not be synchronized with the parliamentary election, possibly due to security concerns in the region. The Supreme Court has mandated that polls for the Union Territory of J&K must be completed by the end of September.

The announcement of the election schedule for the 18th Lok Sabha, along with Assembly polls in several states and bypolls, sets the stage for a significant democratic exercise in the country, showcasing the participation of millions of voters and the democratic process in action.