MUMBAI: The Lok Sabha election in the country will be held in seven phases from April 19, announced Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday.
The polling in phase-1 will be conducted on April 19, phase-2 on April 26, phase-3 on May 7, phase-4 on May 13, phase-5 on May 20, phase-6 on May 25 and phase 7 on June 1.
The counting of votes will take place on June 4, 2024.
There are 97 crore people who are eligible to vote, said the EC.
Addressing a press conference, the CEC said that muscle, money, misinformation & model code of conduct (MCC) violations are four important challenges before the poll panel. However, it also listed the steps that would be taken to tackle these challenges.
“Please don’t try to cross the red-line during political campaigning. Avoid creating digital memories of bad words coming out of your mouth. Please be civilised,” advised EC to political parties.
The 48 constituencies in Maharashtra will vote in five phases. Whereas, the six constituencies in Mumbai will vote on May 20 in phase-5.
– Maharashtra constituencies poll schedule
Phase 1: April 19
Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara – Gondiya, Gadchiroli – Chimura and Chandrapur
Phase 2: April 26
Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal – Washim, Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani
Phase 3: May 7
Raigad, Baramati, Osmanabad, Latur, Solapur, Madha, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri – Sindhudurg, Kolhapur and Hatkanangle
Phase 4: May 13
Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raver, Jalna, Aurangabad, Maval, Pune, Shirur, Ahmednagar, Shirdi and Beed
Phase 5: May 20
Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan and Thane. Mumbai North, Mumbai North – West, Mumbai North – East, Mumbai North – Central, Mumbai South – Central, Mumbai South.
Meanwhile, on question about EVMs, CEC Rajiv Kumar once again reiterated that EVMs are 100 per cent safe
“In last two years, we have done large number of improvement. Number of each EVM which will be going to booth, will be given to candidate.”
