India, the world’s largest democracy, is gearing up for a marathon seven-phase Lok Sabha election, scheduled to commence on April 19 and conclude on June 1. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced the election schedule, highlighting the extensive electoral process that will involve nearly a billion voters across the country.
The marathon election will be conducted in seven phases, with polling dates set for April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. Additionally, assembly elections in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha – will coincide with the Lok Sabha polls.
The Lok Sabha, or House of the People, is the lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament, comprising elected representatives from each of India’s states and union territories. The upcoming elections will see the election of members to the 18th Lok Sabha, as the tenure of the current 17th Lok Sabha ends on June 16, 2024.
In the previous Lok Sabha elections held in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a resounding victory, winning 303 seats out of the 543-member house. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a total of 350 seats, while the Indian National Congress and its allies in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) managed to win only 91 seats.
This time around, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set ambitious targets for his party, aiming for 370 seats for the BJP and 400-plus for the NDA. The BJP’s campaign will focus on its track record of governance and service delivery across various sectors, contrasting it with what it portrays as the previous regime’s failures and corruption.
With the announcement of election dates, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into effect, imposing restrictions on the government’s activities. Any new projects or schemes must receive prior approval from the Election Commission to ensure fairness during the election period.
To prevent illicit methods of influencing voters, the Election Commission has deployed various measures, including confiscating illegal funds and scrutinizing digital payment wallets for suspicious activities. Additionally, e-way bill analytics and data analysis tools will be used to detect unusual demand spikes for consumer goods in specific areas.
The Election Commission aims to ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process, with over a million polling stations set up across the country. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel, along with state police forces, will be deployed to maintain law and order during the elections.
One of the notable regions facing unique challenges in the electoral process is Manipur, where ethnic clashes between the Meitei and tribal Kuki communities have resulted in significant violence. Despite these challenges, arrangements have been made to allow voters living in camps to cast their votes from their respective locations.
In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), assembly elections will be scheduled after the Lok Sabha polls due to security concerns. The region, which has been under Governor’s rule since June 2018, underwent significant political changes following the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The upcoming marathon Lok Sabha elections in India represent a critical juncture in the country’s democratic process, with millions of voters set to determine the course of its governance for the next five years. As political parties gear up for intense campaigning and electoral battles, all eyes will be on the outcome of this historic democratic exercise.