Model Code of Conduct will kick in after poll dates are announced
The Election Commission will announce the much-awaited schedule for holding lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections in three States on Wednesday.The elections, expected to be held in a minimum of six phases beginning in the second week of April, may extend for a month, sources in the Election Commission (EC) said.
The announcement of poll dates will kick in the Model Code of Conduct, which restrains any Government, both at the Centre and State, from launching any new scheme or publicising its achievements.
The schedule will be announced at a Press conference presided over by Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath and Election Commissioners HS Brahma and SNA Zaidi at Vigyan Bhawan, unlike the previous years when the event was held in the Conference Hall at Nirvachan Bhawan.
With all possible permutations and combinations by political parties already on the anvil, the probable dates for the commencement of polling are between April 7 and 10 and could extend to seven phases, sources indicated. The 2009 elections were held in five phases. The term of the current lok Sabha expires on June 1 and the new House has to be constituted by May 31.
Sources had said that the attempt was to “maximise” use of forces and the polling days. In the first phase, polling is expected to be held in some of the Naxal-hit States and in some N-E States. For the first time in parliamentary polls, a system of paper trail for electronic voting will be introduced in some constituencies on a trial basis.
Along with the lok Sabha polls, the EC is likely to announce election dates for the State Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, including Telangana region, Odisha and Sikkim. An estimated 81.4-crore people will be eligible to vote in the coming elections after 9.71-crore new voters were added to the rolls since the last elections.
In the coming elections, candidates in a parliamentary constituency in bigger States can get to spend up to Rs 70-lakh on campaigning. Another first in the lok Sabha elections will be the introduction of “None of the Above” (NOTA) option where a voter can choose not to vote for any candidate.
The updated electoral rolls have been prepared and a total of 1.1-crore poll personnel, half of them being security forces, will be deployed for the smooth conduct of polls and to ensure that they are free and fair.
Plan for new Govt
Along with lS the EC may announce election dates for Assemblies of Andhra, including Telangana region, Odisha and Sikkim
The probable dates for the commencement of
polling are between April 7 and 10 and could extend
to seven phases
The term of the current lok Sabha expires on June 1 and the new House has to be constituted by May 31
pIn the first phase, polling is expected to be held in some of the Naxal-hit States and in some North-Eastern States
For the first time in parliamentary polls, a system of paper trail for electronic voting will be introduced in some constituencies on a trial basis
p An estimated 81.4-crore people will be eligible to vote in the coming elections after 9.71-crore new voters were added to the rolls since the last elections