New Delhi, March 10: The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday announced seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Polling for first phase of elections will be held on on April 11, while for seventh phase on May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
The model code of conduct has come into force immediately for the high-voltage elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make his bid to return to power amid hectic parleys by several political parties to put a united fight against the ruling BJP.
Amongst other things, the code bars the government from announcing policy decisions.
“10 lakh polling stations to be set up for Lok Sabha polls against nine lakhs in 2014,” Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said while addressing the media.
“Voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) to be used in all polling stations,” he said.
The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3.
In 2014, the EC had announced the election schedule on March 5 and the nine-phase electoral exercise was spread across April and May.
While the first phase polling was on April 7, the last phase was on May 12. — Agencies
