General Elections 2019 from 11th April to 19th May

Election Commission of India announced the schedule for 2019 General Elections to Lok Sabha and to State Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.

Elections to the world’s largest democracy pose immense challenges with respect to logistics and man/woman and material management and Commission’s endeavour in this direction has been to consult all the stakeholders, invite inputs from all the relevant departments/organizations and evolve a coordinated framework for smooth delivery
of another round of General Elections.

The five-year term of the 16th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 03rd June, 2019. Credible elections, conducted at regularly prescribed intervals, are the very soul of any democratic system. Article 324 of the Constitution of India bestows the relevant powers, duties and functions upon the Election Commission of India while Section 14 of the
Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides for the conduct of the elections to constitute a new Lok Sabha before the expiry of its current term. Taking into account these Constitutional and legal provisions, the Election Commission of India has made comprehensive preparations for the conduct of elections to the 17th Lok Sabha in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

This year, the national elections will be organized in seven rounds starting from 11 April and the results will be announced on May 23, the Election Commission said. Electoral voting will be held across India on April 11, April 19, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.

The announcement signals the start of a colossal voting exercise that will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking another term in office and the opposition attempting to join forces to put up a strong fight.

In addition to this, Assembly Elections will also be held in four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha - along with the parliamentary polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the election commission's announcement of election schedule by tweeting, "The festival of democracy, elections are here. I urge my fellow Indians to enrich the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with their active participation. I hope this election witness a historic turnout. I particularly call upon first-time voters to vote in record numbers."