The four states expected to vote in April/May are Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim, with Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand to vote later this year.
New Delhi:
Dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election will be announced at 3 pm Saturday, the Election Commission of India said this afternoon. The ECI posted a brief statement on X (formerly Twitter) that said dates for four Assembly polls – scheduled to be held around the same time – would also be released.
The Model Code of Conduct will come into force from the time the dates are announced.
The four states expected to vote in April/May are Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim, with Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand scheduled to vote later this year.
Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, are also set to vote, in line with a Supreme Court order directing the conduct of Assembly polls by September 30 as the first step towards restoration of statehood.
In a first, the poll panel has given 24-hour notice of a press conference to announce voting dates, polling phases, and other details, including deployment of security personnel in states where post-poll violence and clashes with Maoist or rebel forces is a factor that needs to be considered.
The ECI’s pre-announcement comes a day after two new Election Commissioners were inducted, after the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey in February and Arun Goel’s surprise resignation last week. Former IAS officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu have been named to the panel.
The nomination of Mr Kumar and Mr Sandhu was challenged by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a non-partisan organisation working on electoral and political reforms. The ADR, which also petitioned the top court in the electoral bonds issue, had sought a stay on the two appointments, challenging the decision to exclude Chief Justice DY Chandrachud from the selection panel.
The top court – which was hearing the petition as the ECI posted its tweet – has refused to stay Mr Kumar and Mr Sandhu’s appointment, and said the matter will be heard next on March 21.
Under current laws, Election Commissioners are appointed by the President based on the input of 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, which is currently the Congress’ Adhir Chowdhury.
In 2023, however, the Supreme Court had said the panel should consist of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice. The landmark order was seen as insulating the poll body from political interference. However, in an addendum seen by many as giving the government a way out, the court said the order would only remain till the passage of a law that says otherwise.
