The Election Commission of India (EC) unveiled the comprehensive schedule for Andhra Pradesh in the highly anticipated 2024 Lok Sabha elections, set for May 13, during a significant announcement on Saturday, March 16. Spanning from April 19 to June 1, the general election polling will unfold across seven stages, as revealed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar during a pivotal news conference. Joining him were the newly appointed election commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
In a noteworthy development, the poll panel also divulged the assembly election schedules for four states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. Notably, these states will witness simultaneous assembly election polling alongside Lok Sabha voting. While Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are slated for assembly elections on April 19, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will host theirs on May 13, with voting culminating on June 4.
A staggering 97 crore eligible voters nationwide are poised to cast their ballots for the 543 Lok Sabha seats, underscoring the enormity of this democratic exercise. Moreover, it’s imperative to note that the moral code of behavior swiftly comes into effect following the announcement of dates, underscoring the Election Commission’s commitment to fair and ethical electoral practices.
Tirri Venkat Vinod