New Delhi:

Dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election will probably be introduced at 3 pm Saturday, the Election Commission of India stated this afternoon. The ECI posted a quick assertion on X (previously Twitter) that stated dates for 4 Assembly polls – scheduled to be held across the similar time – would even be launched.

The Model Code of Conduct will come into drive from the time the dates are introduced. The 2019 election was held over seven phases from April 11 to May 19, with outcomes declared 4 days later.

The 4 states anticipated to vote in April/May are Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim; Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand scheduled to vote later this 12 months. Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, are additionally set to vote, consistent with a Supreme Court order directing the conduct of Assembly polls by September 30 as step one in direction of restoration of statehood.

Press Conference by Election Commission to announce schedule for #GeneralElections2024 & some State Assemblies will probably be held at 3 pm tomorrow ie Saturday, sixteenth March. It will livestreamed on social media platforms of the ECI pic.twitter.com/1vlWZsLRzt

— Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) March 15, 2024

In a primary, the ballot panel has given 24-hour discover of a press convention to announce voting dates, polling phases, and different particulars, together with deployment of safety personnel in states the place post-poll violence and clashes with Maoist or insurgent forces is an element that must be thought of.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Dates: The 2019 election was held from April 11 to April 19 (File).

Bengal’s ruling Trinamool has already underlined its place, calling for a single-phase election for the state’s 42 seats and demanding central safety forces not “threaten/intimidate voters”.

Election Commissioners Case In Supreme Court

The ECI’s pre-announcement comes a day after two new Election Commissioners have been inducted, after the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey in February and Arun Goel’s surprise resignation final week. Former IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu have been named to the panel.

READ | Ex-Bureaucrats Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Sandhu Are New ECs

The nomination of Mr Kumar and Mr Sandhu was challenged by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a non-partisan organisation engaged on electoral and political reforms. The ADR, which additionally petitioned the highest court docket within the electoral bonds issue, had sought a keep on the 2 appointments, difficult the choice to exclude Chief Justice DY Chandrachud from the choice panel.

The prime court docket – which was listening to the petition because the ECI posted its tweet – has refused to remain Mr Kumar and Mr Sandhu’s appointment, and stated the matter will probably be heard subsequent on March 21.

READ | Supreme Court Refuses To Stay Appointment Of ECs

Under present legal guidelines, Election Commissioners are appointed by the President primarily based on the enter of a three-member panel chaired by the Prime Minister. The panel additionally features a Union Minister and the Leader of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha, which is at present the Congress’ Adhir Chowdhury.

In March 2023, nevertheless, the Supreme Court had stated the panel ought to encompass the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice. However, in an addendum seen by many as giving the federal government an out, the court docket stated the order would stay until passage of a regulation that stated in any other case.

READ | On EC Appointments, Supreme Court’s Massive Order

In December the federal government handed a regulation that establishes a brand new mechanism – swapping the Chief Justice for a Union Minister – to nominate all, or anyone, of the three election commissioners.

The ballot panel is headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

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