Lok Sabha Election 2024 : Phase 1st – 19 April , 2024
Polls begin on April 19, results on June 4.
Lok Sabha Election 2024 Date LIVE: The Election Commission of India announced on Saturday that Lok Sabha elections will be held in 7 phases. Counting for all elections, including by-elections, assembly elections, and general elections, is slated for June 4. The current government’s term is ending on June 16. Lok Sabha elections full schedule .
- Phase 1- April 19, 2024
- Phase 2- 26 April 2024
- Phase 3-7 May 2024
- Phase 4 – 13 May 2024
- Phase 5 – 20 May 2024
- Phase 6 – 25 May 2024
- Phase 7 – 1 June 2024
- Counting on June 4
2024 Lok Sabha polls: Check full schedule
How many voters for Lok Sabha elections in India?
According to CEC Rajiv Kumar, there are 96.8 crore people are eligible to cast a vote in the upcoming polls at over 12 lakh polling stations.
What was the result of 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won 303 seats while Congress got 52 seats.
The BJP-led NDA has expressed confidence for the upcoming polls as well, hoping to win over 400 seats. While Congress boasts of giving a spirited fight.
The 2024 General Elections (also known as the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections) will be held in India from 19 April 2024 to 1 June 2024 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The elections will be held in 7 different phases and the results will be announced on 4 June 2024. This will be the largest-ever election in the world, surpassing the 2019 general elections and will be the longest-held general elections in the country with a total span of 44 days (excluding the inaugural general election). This will be the first general election after landmark events such as Abolition of Article 370, Creation of Hindu Temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and the Implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act. The incumbent Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will be contesting elections for the third consecutive time.
The Legislative assembly elections in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will be held simultaneously with the general election, along with the by-elections for 35 seats among 16 states.
Background
Contemporary politics and previous elections
India has a multi-party system with two major parties, namely the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress, dominating the national politics. Since 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party has governed the country with Narendra Modi at the helm. The tenure of the 17th Lok Sabha is scheduled to end on 16 June 2024. The previous general elections were held in April–May 2019. After the election, National Democratic Alliance, led by Bharatiya Janata Party, formed the union government, with Modi continuing as Prime Minister.
Electoral system
Article 83 of the Constitution of India requires elections to the Lok Sabha be held once every five years.All 543 elected MPs are elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting. The 104th amendment to the constitution abolished the two seats that were reserved for the Anglo-Indian community.
Eligible voters must be Indian citizens, 18 years or older, ordinary resident of the polling area of the constituency and registered to vote (name included in the electoral rolls), possess a valid voter identification card issued by the Election Commission of India or equivalent. Some people convicted of electoral or other offences are barred from voting.
Major election issues
After the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Hindu nationalistic sentiments have dominated the political sphere in India.
Election schedule
Chief Election Commissioner announced the 2024 General Elections schedule for Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies during a press conference
Official logo,
“चुनाव का पर्व DESH KA GARV” which means -”Festival of Election, Nation’s Pride”
The electionn schedule for 18th Lok Sabha was announced by Election Commission on 16 March 2024. The tenure of 17th Lok Sabha is scheduled to end on 16 June 2024.
Date Summary
2024 Lok Sabha Election Schedule
2024 Lok Sabha Election Schedule
Poll event Phase
I II III IV V VI VII
Notification Date 20 March 28 March 12 April 18 April 26 April 29April 7 May
Last Date for filing
nomination 27 March 4 April 19 April 25 April 3 May 6 May 14 May
Scrutiny of nomination 28 March 5 April 20 April 26 April 4 May 7 May 15 May
Last Date for
withdrawal
of nomination 30 March 8 April 22 April 29 April 6 May 9 May 17 May
Date of poll 19 April 26 April 7 May 13 May 20 May 25 May 1 June
Date of counting of
votes/Result 4 June 2024
No. of constituencies 102 89 94 96 49 57 57
Other notable parties and alliances
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati announced that her party will contest the election on its strength in most states and ally with other non-BJP, non-Congress parties in Telangana and Haryana.
On 11 May 2023, Biju Janata Dal leader and Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik said that his party will go solo for the Lok Sabha polls.
Party campaigns
National Democratic Alliance
Bharatiya Janata Party
Main article: Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for the 2024 Indian general election
The national executive meeting of BJP held on 16 and 17 January 2023 saw the party reaffirm its faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extend the tenure of BJP national president J. P. Nadda.
Charting out the BJP’s strategy for the upcoming polls, PM Modi in his speech to party workers said they should reach out to every section of society, including the marginalised and minority communities, “without electoral considerations”.
Following the 2023 Legislative Assembly elections, Modi debuted the slogan “Modi Ki Guarantee” for the 2024 polls.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its first list of 195 candidates on 2 March 2024.
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
The bloc’s first joint rally was held in Patna, Bihar on 3 March 2024. The rally saw, among others, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav, and senior Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D. Raja. Kharge attacked Kumar for frequently changing alliances and criticised the BJP for not fulfilling its promise of jobs and neglecting the country’s poor and the majority.
Indian National Congress
Main article: Indian National Congress campaign for the 2024 Indian general election
The Congress campaign was launched from Nagpur at a huge rally in which over 1 million people were expected to have attended in Nagpur, Maharashtra on 28 December 2023.This rally also marked the 138th Congress Foundation Day and was being held to energise the party cadre for the 2024 Indian general election. Party workers from all over the state are called to join the rally.
On 14 January, the party launched its Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a sequel to the Bharat Jodo Yatra held the previous year. The yatra started in Thoubal, Manipur and will end in Mumbai on 20 March 2024.[46] It will cover 6,713 kilometres (4,171 miles) across 14 states.
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Main article: Communist Party of India (Marxist) campaign for the 2024 Indian general election
Communist Party of India (Marxist) began the election campaign in Kerala after announcing 15 candidates in the state.
Rashtriya Janata Dal
The Rashtriya Janata Dal began its campaign with its Jan Vishwas Yatra (“People’s Trust Yatra”) on 20 February 2024. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav launched the yatra from Muzaffarpur in Bihar. The yatra will last till 1 March 2024 and will have covered 33 districts. In Siwan on 23 February, Yadav termed the BJP “a dustbin” which takes in other parties that have become “garbage”.
Party manifestos
Indian National Congress
Youth Manifesto
On 7 March, at Banswara, Rajasthan, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced the Congress Party’s “Youth Manifesto”, in which the party named a separate list of promises especially regarding the youth to attend their grievances.
Right to Employment (Apprenticeship): Any diploma holder or college graduate under 25 can demand formal employment for a year and they will get it.
The 30 lakh (3 million) vacancies in government jobs will be filled.
Measures to bring transparency in government job recruitment.
₹5,000 crore (US$605,000) fund for startups under Yuva Roshni (Bright Youth)
Standardisation of the government recruitment exam process, outsourcing of exams will be stopped.
One-year apprenticeship of ₹1 lakh (US$1,205) for diploma holders upto the age of 25.
Stringent laws to get rid of paper leaks, punishment against those responsible.
Social security for gig workers.
Legal guarantee on MSP for farmers.
Women Manifesto
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the Congress’s section of the manifesto for women, termed Nari Nyay Guarantee (“Women’s Justice Guarantee”).
₹1 lakh (US$1,205) in financial assistance to women from poor families every year.
Half of new government job recruitments will be given to women.
Central government’s contribution to the salary of anganwadi, ASHA, and midday meal workers will be doubled.
Paralegal/legal professional in every panchayat tasked with assisting women to navigate legal frameworks.
At least one hostel will be constructed for working women at every district headquarters to provide safe and affordable accommodation.
Candidates
Main articles: List of National Democratic Alliance candidates for the 2024 Indian general election and List of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates for the 2024 Indian general election
The prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 general election of the NDA alliance is the incumbent Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Whereas, the prime ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc will be decided after the 2024 polls.
Surveys and polls
Main article: Opinion polling for the 2024 Indian general election
According to the Times Now-ETG Research survey released on 3 February 2024, 64% of participants preferred the incumbent Narendra Modi (BJP) as the next Prime Minister of India. Rahul Gandhi (INC) was the second-most preferred at 17%.
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
Main article: Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance is a big-tent, mostly centre-left to left-wing bloc of opposition parties.
On the run up to the general election numerous opposition parties met to form a new opposition alliance to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. After numerous talks 2 dozen political parties came together to form the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or I.N.D.I.A for short.
Parties and alliances
Main article: List of political parties in India
The politics of India has become increasingly bipolar in the run-up to the 2024 Indian general elections with two major alliances emerging; the incumbent National Democratic Alliance and the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. 6 national parties are contesting the 2024 Indian general elections: Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party, National People’s Party and Aam Aadmi Party with all except the BSP being a part of one of the alliances.
National Democratic Alliance
Main article: National Democratic Alliance
The National Democratic Alliance abbreviated as NDA (IAST: Rāṣhṭrīya Jānātāntrik Gaṭhabandhan) is a big-tent, mostly centre-right to right-wing political alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
See also
2024 elections in India
2024 Rajya Sabha elections
Politics of India
2024 Indian general election in Uttar Pradesh.