The Election Commission of India (ECI) is in full swing preparing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with the announcement of the election schedule expected after March 13, according to sources cited by India Today.
Teams from the ECI are currently on the ground, assessing the readiness of various states for the elections. The exercise is expected to conclude by March 13. In the lead-up to the elections, senior ECI officials are holding regular meetings with the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of various states to identify and address potential issues.
Among the practical challenges being deliberated by the ECI are the transportation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the deployment of security personnel, and maintaining vigilance along state borders.
In the coming weeks, ECI teams are scheduled to visit several states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. A visit to Jammu and Kashmir is reportedly planned for March 13.
This year’s Lok Sabha elections will see nearly 97 crore Indians eligible to vote, marking a 6% increase in registered voters from 2019. The ECI published the electoral rolls across all States and Union Territories in early February, following an intensive Special Summary Revision conducted throughout 2024.
The ECI is also exploring the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections across the country. A High-Level Committee, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, recently reviewed progress on this initiative. The One Nation One Election team also held consultations with former Chief Justices Deepak Mishra and SA Bobde earlier this week.
Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, are set to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the coming months.
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