Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19: Counting on June 4

The Election Commission is announcing the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls as well as assembly elections for some states. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is making the announcement in New Delhi. He said the ECI team is fully prepared for the biggest festival of Indian democracy. He said the country has 97 crore registered voters and over 10.5 lakh polling stations manned by 1.5 crore personnel. He added there will be 1.82 crore first-time voters in this election. 

Mr. Kumar highlighted that the Commission is ready to facilitate vote from home for electors over 85 years of age and for persons with disabilities. He also said political parties will have to explain why they have fielded a candidate with serious criminal cases in the elections. The CEC said the daunting challenges in conducting free and fair elections are muscle, money, misinformation, and MCC violations. 

He asserted that ECI has put in place measures to deal with these disruptive challenges. He also said drone-based checking will be done on polling day to check the use of muscle power. He underlined that there is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections and the Commission will be ruthless if violence takes place anywhere during polls. 

Mr. Kumar said the enforcement agencies have been directed to plug the inflow and distribution of liquor, cash, freebies and drugs. He added that the Commission has also asked the agencies to do strict vigil of online cash transfers. The CEC highlighted that directions have been given to election machinery, and parties on waste management, minimum paper use and reducing carbon footprint for sustainable elections. The term of the current Lok Sabha is going to end on 16th June this year.