The process for the 2014 general elections will start mid-March next year and will be held in multiple phases, Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath has hinted.
“Tenure of the present lok Sabha comes to an end on May 31. So, the next House has to be constituted before June 1. It is our responsibility to conduct the elections before that date. National elections may be held in five, six or even seven phases,” Sampath said at an event on Friday. The number of phases is yet to be decided, he added.
He said the notification for the elections would be issued three weeks before the first date of the polls and announcement for the elections will come another three weeks in advance. “So, six weeks before the first day of the polls, the Election Commission would make the announcement for the lok Sabha polls,” he said.
He said the Election Commission had already started preparations for the 2014 elections in which 780 million people are likely to cast their votes at over 8,00,000 polling booths, using over 1.18 million electronic voting machines (EVMs). “Indian elections never missed the deadline, even in most trying circumstances,” he said.
“Our close review of election preparedness in each part of the country will begin soon. Will cover law and order, logistics, condition of polling stations, resources, men and material and equipment,” he said. There is speculation about the Government convening the Parliament’s session in January to seek a vote of account and pave the way for early general elections — sometime in March-April. The Government had, however, denied any such plans and maintained the elections will be held in May 2014 itself.