Assembly elections in 2024 and their electoral dynamics
As many as eight states will go to the assembly polls in 2024. These elections will shape each state's political landscape, determining the future governance and policies.
Andhra Pradesh
All state legislative assembly members of Andhra Pradesh will be elected before May 2024. The ruling YSR Congress Party, led by chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, aims to defend its overwhelming victory in 2019, securing 151 out of 175 seats.
Arunachal Pradesh
With 60 seats, elections are set to take place around April 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governs the state, led by chief minister Pema Khandu, while the Congress holds four seats.
Odisha
As the tenure of the current Odisha legislative assembly is set to end on June 2, 2024, the Odisha legislative assembly elections are scheduled to be held in or before June 2024. The state, led by chief minister Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal, is scheduled to hold elections for its 147-member assembly. The BJP and Congress hold 23 and nine seats, respectively.
Sikkim
Elections for its 32-member assembly are slated for April 2024. Currently, it is governed by the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, with Prem Singh Tamang as chief minister.
Maharashtra
Scheduled for October 2024, Maharashtra's Legislative Assembly elections will see 288 seats in contention. The state witnessed a coalition government comprising the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and BJP. However, internal conflicts led to the formation of the MVA coalition with the NCP and Congress after the NDA alliance secured a majority in 2019.
Haryana
Ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party in alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party and independent MLAs, Haryana gears up for elections around October 2024.
Lok Sabha Election Procedure
The Lok Sabha elections, also known as the general elections in India, are conducted to elect members of Parliament (MPs) who represent the people in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Parliament.
Election Schedule Announcement:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announces the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections. The schedule includes the dates for various phases of polling, counting of votes, and declaration of results.
Voter Registration:
Eligible citizens are required to register themselves as voters. The ECI conducts various voter registration drives to ensure maximum participation.
Candidate Nomination:
Political parties and independent candidates nominate their candidates for the Lok Sabha seats. Nomination papers are submitted to the returning officer of the respective constituency within the specified time frame.
Scrutiny of Nominations:
The returning officer scrutinises the nomination papers to ensure that candidates fulfil all eligibility criteria and there are no discrepancies. Objections, if any, raised against nominations are also addressed during this process.
Withdrawal of Candidature:
Candidates have the option to withdraw their nomination papers within a specified period after scrutiny. Once the withdrawal process is completed, the final list of candidates is prepared.
Polling:
The Lok Sabha elections are conducted through electronic voting machines or EVMs and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT machines. Polling takes place across multiple phases in different constituencies as per the election schedule.
Counting of Votes:
After the completion of all phases of polling, the votes cast are counted. The counting process is supervised by the ECI and conducted in the presence of candidates and their agents.
Declaration of Results:
Once the counting of votes is completed, the election commission announces the results for each Lok Sabha constituency. The candidate securing the highest number of valid votes is declared the winner and becomes the MP.
Formation of Government:
The political party or coalition that secures a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha forms the government. The leader of the majority party or coalition is invited by the President of India to become the prime minister.
Oath-taking:
Elected MPs take an oath of office before assuming their roles and responsibilities in the Lok Sabha.
When are the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2024?
India conducts Lok Sabha elections every five years. The upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections are anticipated to take place in April and May. However, the exact dates have not been announced yet.
How many seats are there in the Lok Sabha?
The Lok Sabha comprises 545 members, with two seats reserved. For the 2024 elections, 543 seats will be up for contest.
Who is currently serving as India's Prime Minister?
Narendra Modi, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is currently serving as India's Prime Minister.
Which political alliances are expected to compete in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections?
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, is expected to compete against the opposition INDIA coalition, which aims to overthrow the current government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
When are the expected election dates to be announced officially?
Senior poll officials anticipate that election dates will be announced in the second week of March. The voting process is expected to conclude by the last week of May.
Which parties and candidates are participating in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections?
Several parties are participating in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, including BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), National People’s Party, Communist Party, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), among others. The Samajwadi Party has also announced its list of candidates for various constituencies.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019 (FAQs):
When were the 2019 Lok Sabha elections held?
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections were conducted in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, 2019.
Who were the main contenders in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
The main contenders in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi.
What were the major issues discussed during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
The major issues during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections included unemployment, national security, economic development, agrarian distress, social welfare schemes, and communal tensions.
What was the voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
The overall voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was approximately 67.11 per cent, making it one of the highest in Indian electoral history.
How many seats were contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
A total of 542 seats were contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, out of which 539 were from states and union territories, and three were from the Union territory of Puducherry.
What was the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 303 seats, securing a clear majority in the Lok Sabha. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, secured a total of 353 seats.
What were the key factors contributing to the BJP's victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
Factors contributing to the BJP's victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections included Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity, the government's response to national security issues, effective campaigning, and the party's outreach efforts.
How did regional parties perform in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, While regional parties played a significant role in some states, particularly in South India and eastern India, the BJP's strong performance overshadowed many regional parties in terms of national impact.
What role did alliances play in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
Pre-poll alliances, particularly the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP, and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress, played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
What were some of the notable developments or controversies during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?
Some notable developments during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections included the Balakot airstrikes, the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Rafale deal controversy, and allegations of EVM tampering.
