7-phase LS polls from April 19

New Delhi, Mar 16:  Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajeev Kumar Saturday unveiled the timeline for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, heralding the commencement of one of the world’s most extensive democratic undertakings.

Spanning 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, the elections will unfold across seven phases, commencing on April 19 and culminating on June 1.

The final verdict is slated to be out on June 4.

Simultaneously, assembly elections would be held in four states - Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir remains excluded from this list due to its status under the President's Rule since 2018 and its current classification as a union territory.

In a bid to tackle the proliferation of misinformation and hate speech on social media platforms, the CEC issued a stern caution to political entities, stressing the imperative of responsible conduct on these platforms.

“False information will face stringent repercussions in accordance with prevailing legislation,” he said referencing Section 79 (3) (B) of the IT Act, which authorises designated officers to expunge illicit content.

Emphasising the need for a discourse centred on issues rather than resorting to hate speech or divisive rhetoric based on caste or religion, he said, “No personal attacks will be tolerated.”

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government vies for an unprecedented third term and the opposition consolidates under the INDIA alliance, the forthcoming elections loom as a pivotal arena for political factions nationwide.

The declaration of the election dates concurrently leads to the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, constraining the government from enacting fresh policies until the culmination of the electoral process.

The voting populace, encompassing an impressive 96.88 crore registered voters, holds the reins to sculpting the nation’s future trajectory as it gears up for this monumental democratic endeavour.