The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India are set to be a significant political event, with the polls taking place over seven phases from April 19 to June 1, 2024. The results will be announced on June 4, 2024. This election will determine the members of the 18th Lok Sabha, with 968 million eligible voters, the largest electorate in history (Wikipedia) (Hindustan Times).
Key Dates and Phases:
- Phase I: April 19, 2024
- Phase II: April 26, 2024
- Phase III: May 7, 2024
- Phase IV: May 13, 2024
- Phase V: May 20, 2024
- Phase VI: May 25, 2024
- Phase VII: June 1, 2024
Each phase will cover different sets of states and constituencies, ensuring that the entire country has the opportunity to vote (India Today) (Hindustan Times).
Major Parties and Candidates:
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking a third consecutive term. Key figures include Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari.
- Indian National Congress (INC): Key figures include Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor. The party is part of the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties.
- Other Parties: Samajwadi Party, All India Trinamool Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, among others (Hindustan Times).
Notable Points:
- Voting Innovations: For the first time, voters with disabilities and those over the age of 85 can cast their votes from home. Additionally, electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be extensively used, despite opposition from some quarters advocating for a return to paper ballots (Wikipedia).
- Security and Management: Nearly 15 million election workers and security personnel will ensure the smooth conduct of the elections across more than one million polling stations (Wikipedia).
The 2024 elections are expected to be highly competitive, with significant attention on the performance and policies of the incumbent government as well as the strategies of the opposition. The outcome will shape India's political landscape for the next five years.
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