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Lok Sabha Election 2019 Schedule Highlights| Countdown for Lok Sabha polls begins with EC’s announcement today
The Election Commission is all set to announce schedule for the Lok Sabha polls at 5pm today setting in motion the biggest democratic exercise in the world involving nearly 90 crore voters.The elections will be held for 543 seats of the Lok Sabha on approximately 10 lakh polling booths across the country. The tenure of the current Lok Sabha ends on June 3.The Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in seven to nine phases.Also Read| Age no bar as BJP eyes winning factor while distributing ticketsFollow highlights here:
3:56 pm IST
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: All you need to know about Madhya Pradesh ahead of polls 2019
The Congress party got a major boost ahead of the Lok Sabha 2019 election in the Hindi heartland state of Madhya Pradesh as it wrested power from the BJP after 15 years by winning the assembly polls held last year.
The BJP had swept the national polls in Madhya Pradesh in 2014 and won 27 out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in the central state. The grand old party had won only two seats that year – chief minister Kamal Nath from Chhindwara and Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna. In 2015, Kantilal Bhuria won the Jhabua-Ratlam by-election following the death of Dileep Singh Bhuria.
3:53 pm IST
Sushma Swaraj says BJP will turn up poll heat on air strike sceptics
The BJP will use leaflets to ask people whether they would vote for parties that questioned the valour of the country’s armed forces in connection with the February 26 air strike and the aerial engagement with Pakistan fighter jets the next day.
Speaking at a gathering of the BJP’s women workers here on Sunday, senior leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj signalled that the military action against Pakistan after the February 14 Pulwama attack would be a poll issue for the ruling party, reports PTI.
3:50 pm IST
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Numbers, names and issues in Odisha
The Lok Sabha election 2019 and assembly polls are likely to be held simultaneously in the coastal eastern state of Odisha, where the ruling BJD has held the fort for nearly two decades now.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been working towards getting a foothold in Odisha, identified as one of the priority states ahead of the polls, and prepared a blueprint with the twin objective of strengthening the organisation and gaining mass support in the state.
3:45 pm IST
‘UPA Plus Plus’ will form government at Centre: Sachin Pilot
Asserting that the Congress is “gaining momentum”, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president Sachin Pilot has exuded confidence that “UPA Plus Plus” will secure the mandate to govern in the coming Lok Sabha election.
He claimed the NDA is becoming weaker and the BJP, having lost three states in assembly polls last year, had to compromise to form coalitions for Lok Sabha polls, reports PTI.
3:40 pm IST
Lok Sabha elections 2019: Here is all you need to know about Kerala
The Lok Sabha elections 2019 will see the BJP trying to widen its political footprint in Kerala, the state which largely witnesses a two-cornered contest between the Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front.
The Sangh Parivar, which has gained a foothold in the state over the years, has been raising a number of issues, including a demand for a ban on beef consumption and cow slaughter, so-called Love Jihad, and more recently the Sabarimala controversy to shore up its chances in the coastal state.
3:24 pm IST
We are prepared for polls: BJP
BJP spokesperson Bizay Sonkar Shastri told IANS: “We are prepared for the polls. We are already in election mode. Our cadres are contacting the voters at the booth level. We have the achievements of the central government as well as the state governments. People of the country have full faith on Modiji. We are confident that the country will again elect Modi as Prime Minister.”
3:08 pm IST
Elections should be held anytime as term for 16th Lok Sabha is set to expire on June 3: SS Ahluwalia
Union Minister SS Ahluwalia said that elections should be held anytime as the term for the 16th Lok Sabha is set to expire on June 3, 2019.
“Elections should happen today or tomorrow. The term of the 16th Lok Sabha expires on June 3, 2019. Last time (in 2014), a notification came on March 5 and elections were done by May 16. The members were sworn-in on June 4. So, before June 3, elections should take place so that a new government is formed,” he told ANI.
3:00 pm IST
Political parties in Uttar Pradesh reach out to young voters
With young voters likely to play a key role in the Lok Sabha polls, political parties in Uttar Pradesh have set their sights on them and are trying to reach out with various programmes and campaigns.
A spokesperson for the ruling BJP said the party believes young voters not only actively participate in the electoral process, but also act as a catalyst for others to cast their votes. With ‘Mera Pehla Vote Modi Ko (my first vote for Modi)’ campaign, the BJP hopes the young electors will help it replicate its 2014 performance. As per Election Commission date, there are 14.40 crore voters in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. The count of first time voters stands at approximately 45 lakh, of which 16.75 lakhs are in the age of 18-19 years, reports PTI.
2:51 pm IST
Opposition parties have been questioning the delay in announcing the poll dates
Opposition parties have been questioning the delay in announcing the poll dates, with senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel asking the EC whether it was waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “official” programme to “conclude”, reports news agency ANI.
2:49 pm IST
Election Commission considers various factors before announcing poll dates: Ex-CEC
Former Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla on Sunday said the Election Commission (EC) determines various factors such as the number of poll phases, the strength of central forces needed and other arrangements, before announcing the poll dates.
“In 2009, I had announced it on March 2. In 2014, the dates were announced on March 5. (So) There is no particular date (to announce the poll dates) as the EC determines a lot of things including the number of central forces, timings and how many phases they are planning,” he told ANI.
2:39 pm IST
‘Will be torchbearer’: Kamal Haasan tweets after party gets ‘battery torch’ symbol
The Election Commission has allocated the ‘battery torch’ symbol to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party of actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan.
The MNM had reportedly approached the EC in mid-February to get a party symbol for contesting in 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry.
2:26 pm IST
Be alert during EVM demo on polling day: Pawar to NCP workers
Amidst the row over allegations of EVMs not being tamper-proof, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has asked his party’s booth-level workers to stay alert at the time of demonstration of voting machines on the polling day.
Various opposition parties have alleged that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be tampered with, and they want the Election Commission (EC) to revert to the ballot paper system of voting.
However, the EC has repeatedly asserted that the EVMs are tamper-proof and that they cannot be hacked or rigged, reports PTI.
1:45 pm IST
Model code of conduct will immediately come into effect once election schedule is announced
When the election schedule is announced on Sunday evening, the model code of conduct will immediately come into effect.
1:39 pm IST
Election Commission yesterday conducted review meeting as part of its preparations
The Election Commission on Saturday conducted a review meeting as part of its preparations for the staggered elections to elect 543 members to the Lok Sabha.
1:28 pm IST
Congress, CPI(M) clear hurdles in Bengal for a possible tie-up
The Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI (M), have cleared some of the obstacles in the way of a possible agreement on seat-sharing in West Bengal in the upcoming general election.
Both sides stopped short of a formal announcement, but senior Congress leaders said on condition of anonymity that the party’s central leadership had told them on Saturday not to contest the two parliamentary seats held by the CPI (M), paving the way for further talks on the remaining seats.
1:03 pm IST
‘Don’t use photographs of defence personnel for election campaigns,’ EC tells political parties
The Election Commission on Saturday directed political parties to desist from displaying photographs of defence personnel in advertisements or otherwise as part of their election propaganda or campaigning.
The direction came after a complaint by the ministry of defence.
12:44 pm IST
Have announced 33% reservation for women in upcoming Lok Sabha elections: Naveen Patnaik
I am delighted to be in Kendrapara today. Here, I have announced 33 per cent reservation for women in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, says BJD president Naveen Patnaik.
Also Read| BJD to field 33% women in Lok Sabha elections, says Naveen Patnaik
Odisha CM and BJD President Naveen Patnaik: I am delighted to be in Kendrapara today. Here, I have announced 33 per cent reservation for women in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/rmBnnEmm6L
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2019
12:38 pm IST
Naveen Pattnaik announces 33% quota for women in allocation of Lok Sabha seats for BJD party
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in an election rally in Kendrapara announces 33% quota for women in allocation of Lok Sabha seats for the BJD party.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in an election rally in Kendrapara announces 33% quota for women in allocation of Lok Sabha seats for the BJD party. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/7YCOsxLrkZ
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2019
12:33 pm IST
BJP secured a clear majority in 2014 on its own
The BJP secured a clear majority in 2014 on its own riding on the back of a strong Modi wave. This was the first time since 1984 general elections that a single political party could win majority. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 336 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP won 282.
12:22 pm IST
In 2014, the Lok Sabha polling was held on nine days between April 7 and May 12
In 2014, the Lok Sabha polling was held on nine days between April 7 and May 12. The votes were counted on May 16, completing the entire process in 72 days as compared to 75 in 2009.
12:15 pm IST
Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in seven to nine phases
Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in seven to nine phases.
12:07 pm IST
Tenure of current Lok Sabha ends on June 3
The tenure of the current Lok Sabha ends on June 3.
12:02 pm IST
EC has allotted common symbols to 39 registered un-recognised political parties for general elections
Election Commission of India has allotted common symbols to 39 registered un-recognised political parties for coming general elections, reports news agency ANI.
11:57 am IST
Elections will be held for 543 seats of Lok Sabha
The elections will be held for 543 seats of the Lok Sabha on approximately 10 lakh polling booths across the country.
11:52 am IST
Dates for Lok Sabha elections to be announced by poll panel at 5 pm today
Dates for Lok Sabha elections to be announced by poll panel at 5 pm today.
