Lok Sabha Election LIVE: Dates Announced

The Election Commission of India has announced dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The Election Commission of India held a press conference to reveal the dates. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in 7 phases beginning on April 19 and ending on June 4. CEC Rajiv Kumar arrived at the press conference with Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu at 3pm. On June 16, the current administration will come to an end.

For the first time, the poll panel has provided 24-hour notice for a press conference to announce voting dates, polling phases, and other details, including the deployment of security personnel in states where post-poll violence and conflicts with Maoist or rebel forces are significant factors.

The ruling Trinamool in Bengal has already emphasized its stance, advocating for a single-phase election for the state’s 42 seats and urging central security forces to refrain from “threatening/intimidating voters.”

The ECI’s pre-announcement comes shortly after the induction of two new Election Commissioners, following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey in February and the unexpected resignation of Arun Goel last week. Former IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu have been appointed to the panel.

The appointments of Mr. Kumar and Mr. Sandhu were challenged by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a non-partisan organization working on electoral and political reforms. The ADR, which also brought the electoral bonds issue to the top court, sought a stay on the appointments, contesting the exclusion of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud from the selection panel.

While the top court, which was hearing the petition when the ECI posted its tweet, declined to stay the appointments of Mr. Kumar and Mr. Sandhu, it stated that the matter will be heard next on March 21.

Under current legislation, Election Commissioners are appointed by the President based on input from a three-member panel chaired by the Prime Minister. The panel also includes a Union Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, currently held by Congress’ Adhir Chowdhury.

However, in March 2023, the Supreme Court stated that the panel should consist of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice. Nonetheless, an addendum to the order, interpreted by many as providing the government with an alternative, stated that the order would remain in effect until the passage of a law to the contrary.

In December, the government enacted a law establishing a new mechanism, substituting the Chief Justice for a Union Minister, to appoint all or any one of the three election commissioners.

The poll panel is led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.