India to hold polls in 7 phases starting from April 11

NEW DELHI, India

India will hold a general election in seven stages starting on April 11, the country’s chief election commissioner announced on Sunday.

Speaking at a news conference, Sunil Arora said that about 900 million people, including 84.3 million new voters, would be eligible to vote in the world’s biggest democratic process.

The last phase of the election will be held on May 19 and final counting of the votes will take place on May 23, Arora said. Around a million polling stations will be set up for the elections using voting machines and paper trail machines in across 543 constituencies, he added.

“The Model Code of Conduct has now come into force,” the chief election commissioner announced.

The Model Code of Conduct bars the government from announcing policy decisions. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a second term, while some of the opposition parties have got united in a bid to give a tough fight to Modi.

The term of the present government ends on June 3.

Arora said elections for state assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will also be held simultaneously with the general elections.

However, no assembly polls will be held in Jammu and Kashmir state, the chief election commissioner added.

Following the announcement of the election dates, Modi wrote on Twitter: “Best wishes to the Election Commission, all those officials and security personnel who will be on the field, across the length and breadth of India assuring smooth elections. India is very proud of the EC [Election Commission] for assiduously organizing elections for several years."