New Delhi: The elections of Lok Sabha may begin in the second week of April and likely to spread over seven phases, the longest so far, sources said on Sunday.
The probable dates for the commencement of polling are between April 7 and 10, said sources in the Election Commission.
As of now, the plan is to have voting, involving over 81 crore voters, in seven phases but efforts are on to reduce that to six phases. The 2009 polls were held in five phases from April 16 to May 13.
The much-expected announcement of the schedule is expected in the middle of this week. The Model Code of Conduct for governments and political parties will come into force from the date of announcement.
Meanwhile Election Commission has ruled out advancing the schedule or compressing it to avoid the summer heat, a demand put forward at the all-party meeting convened by the Commission last month.
Notify that the term of the current Lok Sabha expires on June 1 and the new House has to be constituted by May 31.
Along with the Lok Sabha polls, Andhra Pradesh, including the regions comprising the newly-carved out Telangana, Odisha and Sikkim will go to polls to elect new assemblies.
Highly placed sources in the Commission said finishing touches were being given to the schedule. Consultations with the Union Home Ministry, state governments, para-military forces and Chief Electoral Officers of states have already been completed.
There was speculation that the announcement may be slightly delayed for the Centre to promulgate some of the ordinances it plans to bring out against corruption and on some other issues but there is no confirmation of it.
It would be the first time the country would witness elections over such a long period if a six or a seven-phased schedule is finalised.
The sources said that the attempt is to “maximise” use of forces and the polling days. In the first phase, polling is expected to be held in some of the naxal-hit states and in some North-East states.
The Commission has also issued guidelines to political parties asking them to explain the rationale of financing the promises they make in their election manifestos. The guidelines that followed Supreme Court directions in this regard have now been made part of the Model Code.
Now candidates in a Parliamentary constituency in bigger states can spend up to Rs 70 lakh on their campaign which has been increased from Rs 40 lakh in 2011. In the 2009 elections it was Rs 25 lakh.
Another first in the Lok Sabha elections will be the introduction of “None of the Above” (NOTA) option in voting, which was put in vogue in the assembly elections a few months ago.
Bureau Report
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