The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, while addressing a press conference, announced that the polls will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.
He also announced that assembly elections will be held simultaneously in four states - Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh - and by-elections for 26 assembly seats in various states including Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
State assembly elections in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh will be held on 19 April, while polling in Andhra Pradesh will be held on 13 May and assembly elections in Odisha will be held in two phases on 13 and 20 May.
The results will be announced on 4 June.
With the announcement of the dates for the Lok Sabha elections, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been implemented in the country.
"There should be [an] issue-based campaign, no hate speeches, no speeches along caste or religious lines, no criticism of anyone's personal life," Kumar said while listing out the MCC's guidelines to political parties and candidates.
The CEC also issued a stern message on the spread of fake news on social media, asking political parties to ensure responsible conduct on social media.
"Fake news will be dealt with severely as per extant laws," Kumar said, adding that Section 79 (3)(B) of the IT Act empowers nodal officers in each state to remove unlawful content.
On polling station facilities, the CEC said that drinking water, toilets, signage, ramp/wheelchair, help desk, voter facilitation centre and adequate lighting will be provided at all polling stations.