Lok Sabha Elections 2024 updates: Voting in 7 phases, from April 19 to June 1; counting on June 4

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "These people sat in the government after making big promises to the youth, but today they are stopping the scholarship of the same youth and cutting the scholarship. It is the Congress which is committing the sin of killing the rights of the youth. The condition of Congress' loot is such that the government does not have money even for small development works...Can any government run like this?"

On the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates, BJP MP Hema Malini says, "Everyone is very excited (for the elections) in Mathura... I want the people to support me in the work and in the development of Mathura... I want to bring the Central Universities here... Good things are going to take place here... PM Modi has said this time '400 paar' and we have to achieve that target..."

As the Election Commission announced Lok Sabha election schedule, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has said the BJP workers are ready for the polls. “The workers of BJP are absolutely ready for the elections and we have a belief that the dedication of our workers and our development programs will ensure the party's victory in Rajasthan. We are going to win 25 seats in the state," he said.

As the EC announced Lok Sabha election dates, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted: “Today, the Election Commission has announced the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Elections are a grand festival for the world's largest democracy....I appeal to the youth, women, and all voters to participate in this grand festival of democracy by voting in greater numbers to elect the BJP-led NDA government, which prioritizes the nation first."

Congress leader Priyank Kharge has said the election schedule has been announced to help PM Modi get the maximum mileage across the country. ""Just like the last time, the Election Commission seems to have announced the dates in a manner PM Modi can get the maximum mileage to get the party's (BJP) narrative across the states. It is being held in 7 phases...Maharashtra has election in 5 phases, so it is quite evident that this entire election process is to ensure that BJP gets more time to have their star campaigner move around the country much more easily," Priyank Kharge said.

"On one side the Govt of India wanted One Nation, One Election and on the other side, they are holding State elections and parliamentary elections in 4 states, why is this (J&K) being denied? When every party wanted elections (in J&K) then what is the reason it is not being done? If they say security is the reason, I do not think so. How is that security is alright for the parliamentary elections and not for the state elections?" he said.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 to be held in 7 phases from 19th April; Counting of votes on 4th June: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar

Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim State Assembly Poll date announced as 19 April 2024

Andhra Pradesh State Assembly Poll date announced as 13th May 2024

Elections will be held in 7 phases

The four Ms stand for Muscle, Money, Misinformation and MCC Violations

"It's our promise to deliver national election in a manner that can add to India's shine on world stage," said Election Commission.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Karan Singh Yadav, former Member of Parliament (MP) from the Congress party joined the BJP in the India city of Jaipur. 

Yadav resigned from Congress on Friday (Mar 15) after he blamed senior party leader Bhanwar Jitendra Singh for not letting him contest the upcoming polls from Alwar.

The former Congress MP joined BJP at the party's state headquarters. 

"I am happy that I am joining the government which has a deep connection with Sanatan (Dharma). It is my good fortune that I am joining BJP today," said Famous playback singer Anuradha Paudwal. 

When asked if she will contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Paudwal said "I don't know yet, whatever suggestion they give me..."

Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) released a list of candidates to contest for 25 Lok Sabha seats in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh ahead of the upcoming elections. 

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, on Saturday, announced five more guarantees each for 'Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay' or 'Share of Justice Guarantee'. 

In line with 'Hissedari Nyay', Congress guarantees a comprehensive social, economic and caste census, said Kharge during a press conference. 

The existing set of 15 guarantees are aimed at delivering social, economic, and political justice.

Famous playback singer Anuradha Paudwal joins the ruling BJP party ahead of the upcoming general elections shortly after her arrival at the party headquarters in Delhi. 

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, on Saturday, moved the Supreme Court and has sought an immediate stay on the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by the Indian government. 

No applications seeking grant of citizenship status be entertained or processed by the government under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (as it stands amended by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019) during the pendency of the proceedings, said Owaisi in his petition. 

Singh's tenure as a Rajya Sabha member will end on April 2. He was not re-nominated by the BJP.

"Congress, the party which looted and lied to the people of India for 7 decades, can never work for the welfare of Telangana. They gave empty slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' (remove poverty), yet took no action to uplift the poor," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a rally in Telangana's Nagarkurnool. 

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar arrived at the ECI headquarters ahead of the announcement of the dates of the Lok Sabha elections. The announcement will be at 3 pm. 

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha was on Saturday produced before a Delhi court by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. 

In the court, Kavitha called her arrest illegal. She was arrested by the ED on Friday. 

The dates of the Lok Sabha elections in India will be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in just a few hours from now on Saturday. The ECI will also announce the assembly election dates for some states.

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India's Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking about the Supreme Court's order on electoral bonds, said that he fully respects the order. 

He added that the purpose of introducing the scheme was to put an end to the flow of black money in politics and added that it should have been improved and not scrapped. 

Shah added that ''One Nation, One Election" is the concept which has been brought by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP and said that when it gets implemented, it will ensure the country's faster development and put an end to recurring expenditure.

Read in detail here.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday (Mar 16) appeared in a court in relation to the Enforcement Directorate summon case. The ED had approached the court after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader failed to appear before the economic intelligence agency for interrogation in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case. Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court ACMM granted bail Kejriwal on a bail bond of INR 15,000 ($180) and a surety of ₹1 lakh ($1,200).

Ahead of the announcement of the poll schedule on Saturday (Mar 16), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Telangana's Nagarkurnool.

A day before India's Election Commission's announcement of the schedule of Lok Sabha elections, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for suggestions, ideas and support of the country's citizens in fulfilling the goal of creating a developed country.

In his open letter to the country's citizens, Prime Minister Modi addressed them as “my dear family member”, and said, “Our partnership is at the threshold of completing a decade. The trust and support of 140 crore Indians inspires and motivates me.”

“The beauty of democracy lies in Janbhagidari or public participation. It is your support that gives me the immense strength to take bold decisions for the nation’s welfare, draw up aspirational plans and implement them smoothly,” the prime minister wrote.

Read in detail here.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "The Election Commission must be unbiased. It should not belong to any party. When the code of conduct is implemented, the ruling party tries to lure the voters... The conduct of the Election Commission should be the same and fair for everyone..."

The full schedule of the Lok Sabha elections will be declared by the Election Commission of India at 3 PM local time on Saturday at a press conference.

The body said it will livestream the press conference on all social media platforms, including YouTube, X and Facebook.

People can follow ECI’s social media handles to get timely updates and watch the live stream seamlessly.

Additionally, the press conference will be broadcast live on WION’s TV channel. All updates regarding the same will be reported by WION’s website and all social media handles. You can track all updates on WION’s app.