Lok Sabha Election Dates 2024: Voting to kick off on April 19, will be held in 7 phases; results on June 4

Subject: Polity

Section: Election

Context:

Setting the stage for a two-month-long electoral battle, the Election Commission Saturday announced that the Lok Sabha elections will be kicking off on April 19 and will be held in seven phases.

More on news:

The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is set to end on June 16, while the terms of the Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim Assemblies will end on June 11, June 2, June 24 and June 2, respectively.
The general elections will be held in seven phases through the months of April and May.
Four states, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will also be holding simultaneous Assembly elections.
The results will be declared on June 4.
The Model Code of Conduct, which bars the government in power from announcing any new policy decisions, comes into effect immediately after the announcement.

About Election Commission:

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
Part XV of the Indian constitution deals with elections, and establishes a commission for these matters.
Article 324 to 329 of the constitution deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility, etc of the commission and the member

Appointment of Election Commissioners:

The CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
Appointment of the Commission: The Commission will be appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee will comprise the Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha (or leader of the single largest opposition party).
A Search Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary will suggest five names to the Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee may consider any person other than those suggested by the Search Committee.

Term and reappointment:

Members of the Election Commission will hold office for six years, or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Members of the Commission cannot be re-appointed.
If an EC is appointed as a CEC, the overall period of the term may not be more than six years.

Salary and pension:

The salary, allowances, and other conditions of service of the CEC and ECs will be equivalent to that of the Cabinet Secretary.
They will have an option to draw pension and other retirement benefits from the service that they belonged to previously.

Removal:

The CEC may be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court Judge.
ECs may be removed only upon the recommendation of the CEC.

About Model Code of Conduct:

The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission (EC) to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. Basically, the code spells out the do’s and don’ts for elections.
This is in keeping with Article 324 of the Constitution, which mandates EC to conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.
It is not statutory but Political Parties, Candidates and Polling Agents are expected to observe the norms, on matters ranging from the content of election manifestos, speeches and processions, to general conduct etc.
The code comes into force on the announcement of the poll schedule and remains operational till the process is concluded.
Certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Representation of the People Act, 1951.