Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Seven-Phase Polls Start On April 19, Results On June 4

India will vote to select its next government starting April 19 and the results will be announced on June 4 as the Election Commission kicked off the poll process in the world's biggest democracy.

The Lok Sabha elections will span over seven phases from April through early June, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission on Saturday. Phase one will begin on April 19, and will end with the final seventh phase on June 1.

By-elections in 13 states will also be held in seven phases. The assembly constituency of Vilavancode in Tamil Nadu will be the first constituency to head for by-elections in the first phase. This will end with Agiaon (SC) constituency in Bihar in the seventh phase of the elections.

State elections will kick off with Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim heading for polls on April 19. Andhra Pradesh will vote on May 13, while four-phase elections in Odisha will be held from May 13 till June 1.

The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16 and a new house has to be constituted before that. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party government will seek a third straight term in power. The Indian National Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA is looking to challenge the dominance of the BJP-helmed National Democratic Alliance.

With over 10.5 lakh polling stations across the country, around 1.5 lakh officials will aid in the conduct of the general elections, Rajiv Kumar, chief election commissioner said.

Nearly 97 crore Indians will be eligible to vote in this year's Lok Sabha elections, according to the EC. The poll body has also reported that over 2 crore young voters in the age group of 18 to 29 years have been added to voters' list.

Fully committed to providing safety and every district will have a control room with five video feeds being monitored by a senior officer, Kumar said. "We will be ruthless against violence happening anywhere in the country."