New Delhi (AGENCY) 05 March: The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for Lok Sabha polls 2014. Polling will be held in nine phases, starting April 07 and the counting of votes will be held on May 16.
The EC also announced schedule for assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, including the regions comprising Telangana, and Odisha and Sikkim.
The schedule was announced by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath along with Election Commissioners H S Brahma and Dr Nasim Zaidi at a press conference held at Vigyan Bhavan in the national capital.
The elections would see more than 81.4 crore voters exercise their ballot; the number of voters is 10 crore more than the last general election held in 2009. The term of the current Lok Sabha expires on June 1 and the new House has to be constituted by May 31.
Sampath said that the EC had taken into consideration factors like examination schedules and weather conditions.
The EC said that electoral roll have already been updated till January 1, 2014 and final rolls have been published in all states.
However, the EC has offered one more opportunity to enroll in the electoral rolls. Camps would be set up on March 9 at all polling booths – around 9,30,000 – across the country to allow people to enroll themselves, the EC said.
The Model Code of Conduct for governments and political parties will come into force with immediate effect.
The election schedule is as under:
CEC V S Sampath – Polling to start on April 7 with six seats. Followed by April 9 with seven seats. The third date of poll on 10th April 2014. Fourth date of polling will be 12 April. The fifth date of poll on 17th April 2014. The seventh date of poll on 30th April 2014. The eight date of poll on 7th May 2014. In nine poll days we will cover entire country. Late date of polling 12 May.
Andhra Pradesh will go to polls 30 April and 7 May. Bihar to have six poll phases. Polls dates April 7, April 9, April 10, April 12, April 17, April 24, April 30, May 7 & May 12 respectively.
On April 10, 14 states & 92 constituencies will go to poll, 3 states on April 12, 13 states on April 17. Poll days for Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh to have six poll days. Punjab one poll day: 30 April. Rajasthan two poll days: 17 April and 24 April. Tamil Nadu on 24 April. 10 April, 17 April, 24 April. Nine phase elections with results on 16th May
Andhra Pradesh will go to polls 30 April and 7 May. Bihar to have six poll phases. Polls dates April 7, April 9, April 10, April 12, April 17, April 24, April 30, May 7 & May 12 respectively.