Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Political party posters removed as MCC kicks off
The Election Commission has announced that the country will vote in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the results announced on June 4.
New Delhi: The Election of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the schedule of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024. Soon after the poll panel released the dates and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was implemented, we saw the authorities removing the posters of the political party removed. partying from the streets of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh. Announcing the dates, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asked all political parties and their leaders to strictly adhere to the MCC, which contains a list of what leaders and parties can and cannot do in the run-up to the elections.
#WATCH | Badaun, Uttar Pradesh: Posters of political parties being removed after the schedule of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections was announced by the ECI and the model code of conduct was implemented. pic.twitter.com/ijy0E0OQSd
— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2024
The Election Commission has announced that the country will vote in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the results announced on June 4.
What is the Model Code of Conduct?
The Model Code of Conduct is the Election Commission’s guidelines to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. The rules range from issues related to speeches, election days, polling booths, portfolios, content of election manifestos, processions and general conduct, so that free and fair elections are held.
Election Commission announces election dates:
The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls, the world’s largest electoral exercise, will start on April 19. The counting of votes will take place on June 4, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes a bid for a third consecutive term.
Announcing the election manifesto on Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that over 97 crore voters (49.7 crore men and 47.1 crore women) were eligible to cast their votes in the voting process spread over 44 days and in 10.5 lakh polling booths.
The elections will begin on April 19, followed by subsequent phases on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1, Kumar said at a press conference.
In the previous general election in 2019, there were a total of 91.2 crore eligible voters, of which 61.5 crore – 67.4 percent – exercised their franchise.
Kumar said the aim was to improve the voting percentage in these elections and improve the record of conducting peaceful and fair elections with almost zero re-elections.
The Election Commission is doing everything it can to increase turnout and has plans to reach voters over the age of 85 at home to help them cast their votes. Similar facilities will be available to persons with disabilities of more than 40 percent.
The model code of conduct came into effect with the announcement of the elections.
“It is our commitment to conduct national elections in a way that we…remain a beacon for democracy around the world,” Kumar said.