The 2024 Lok Sabha elections can have the second longest voting interval in historical past after the primary parliamentary elections.
The elections, unfold over 44 days, will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, the Election Fee of India introduced on Saturday. The resulted shall be declared on June 4, the ballot physique mentioned.
Notably, the primary parliamentary elections of 1951-52 lasted for over 4 months, making it the longest voting interval in India. However, the 1980 common elections had been held for simply 4 days, making it the shortest elections in India, information company PTI reported.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar mentioned throughout the press convention that the dates had been determined based mostly on the geography of areas and different elements reminiscent of public holidays, festivals and examinations.
Responding to a query if the lengthy schedule would work in opposition to the opposition events, he mentioned, “Take a look at the geography of the countryâæthere are rivers, mountains, snow, jungle, summersâæthink of the safety forces’ actions, they may transfer within the gaps between phases, by the size and breadth of the countryâæimagine the strain on them. There are festivals and examsâæwhen we sit with the calendar, we repair one date, then it needs to be changedâæ”
“We don’t take any motion to favour anybody or damage anybody. If anybody has such doubt they’re flawed,” the CEC mentioned.
A number of opposition events have criticised the transfer to carry elections in seven phases, particularly in states reminiscent of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Election Commissioner mentioned that the election should be held in additional phases in bigger states, which have a better variety of constituencies.
The nation’s first common election was held in 68 phases between October 25, 1951, and February 21, 1952, for 489 Lok Sabha seats throughout 401 constituencies in 25 states, information company PTI mentioned.
Whereas 314 constituencies elected one member every, 86 constituencies elected two members (one from common class and one from both Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe classes) and one constituency elected three representatives. The multi-seat constituencies had been abolished within the Sixties.
Himachal Pradesh voted in 1951, as its climate was generally inclement in February and March, whereas the remaining states voted in February-March of 1952. Notably, no voting befell in Jammu and Kashmir for Lok Sabha elections till 1967.
(With inputs from PTI)