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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 00:02:00
India, March 16 (BBC) - India's general election will take place in seven phases over April and May, the Election Commission says.
The results will be announced on 4 June, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a news conference.
With some 968 million eligible voters, India's election will be the largest the world has seen.
Opinion polls predict a win for Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, which is eyeing a record third term in power.
More than two dozen opposition parties, including the Congress, have formed a coalition bloc - called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA - to take on the BJP at this election.
India's lower house has 543 elected seats and any party or a coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a government.
The BJP, led by Mr Modi, had won a staggering 303 of the 543 seats in the 2019 election. This year, the party says its target is to win at least 370 seats.
Some states will hold polls in several phases.
Voting will be staggered, beginning on 19 April and ending on 1 June, Mr Kumar said.
"We will take democracy to every corner of the country," he said.
"It is our promise to deliver a national election in a manner that we... remain a beacon for democracy around the world."
Some 968 million people - 150 million more than the last elections in 2019 - are eligible to vote.
"Over 26 million new voters have been included in the electoral roll, of which approximately 14 million are women, surpassing the newly enrolled men by over 15%," the Election Commission said.
Electronic voting machines will be used and will contain a None of the Above (Nota) button.
India appointed two new election commissioners on Thursday to fill vacant spots in the three-person Election Commission.
Days before the poll dates were announced, the sudden resignation of Arun Goel, the second-highest officer in the Election Commission, had left the poll body with only one of the three mandated members, the chief election commissioner.
Meanwhile, India's Supreme Court continues to hear a case regarding the controversial electoral bonds scheme that allowed people and companies to make political donations anonymously.
The Election Commission has released a list of India's leading political donors. Mr Modi's BJP was the biggest beneficiary, securing almost half of the bonds worth 120bn rupees donated between 2018 and 2024.
Kasi Navaratnam Sunday, 17 March 2024 07:46 AM
Let USA follow India's ways of conducting a General election, in a timely manner, upkeeping the principles of Democracy. Three person election commission runs the election for 980 million voters to elect 543 MPs. and never in the past, other world powers were able to interfere with Indian elections, tho' traditional enemies exist. like in the USA. The credit goes to the Election team of India.
ANTON Sunday, 17 March 2024 09:03 AM
WE ARE GOING TO HOLD IT WITH WORLD'S LARGEST NUMBER OF POLITICAL PARTIES.
Mohamed Adham Monday, 18 March 2024 10:39 AM
The set up AVM machines are ready for the use by the fascist BJP. The elections in some areas have been scheduled in a staggered manner, to enable these set up AVM's to be transported. India should give up these contorted AVM machines and get back to the manual system, which would truly reflect the will of the people. Too many suspicions on the AVM's. Nothing "democratic" about Indian elections after the fascist BJP came into power. Not that the Congress have been angels. they have also been doing their dirty business all along.
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