The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha election will be revealed at 3 pm on Saturday. This announcement comes ahead of the scheduled Assembly polls in four states – Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. Additionally, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand are expected to vote later this year.
In a first, the ECI has given a 24-hour notice for the press conference where voting dates, polling phases, and other details will be disclosed. This includes the deployment of security personnel in states where post-poll violence and clashes with Maoist or rebel forces are a concern.
The announcement comes after the recent induction of two new Election Commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the surprise resignation of Arun Goel. The nomination of the new commissioners was challenged by the Association for Democratic Reforms, which sought a stay on the appointments due to the exclusion of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud from the selection panel.
The Supreme Court, which was hearing the petition, has refused to stay the appointment of the new Election Commissioners and will continue the hearing on March 21. The appointment process of Election Commissioners involves a three-member panel chaired by the Prime Minister, which also includes a Union Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The poll panel, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, plays a crucial role in ensuring free and fair elections in the country. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the upcoming elections.