India is currently witnessing the biggest democratic exercise in the world to vote the 17th Lok Sabha and a new prime minister. As 900 million eligible voters gear to cast their ballot, here is a list of some of the frequently asked questions about the ongoing general elections:
When were the dates announced?
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The Election Commission of India announced the date of the Lok Sabha polls on March 10.
How many phases will the elections be held in?
The polling body declared that the general elections will be held in seven phases starting April 11 and finishing on May 19. The dates for the elections are – April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.
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For the entire constituency-wise schedule, click here
When will be the results be announced?
The results will be declared on May 23.
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What states are also going for Assembly polls?
In addition, four states – Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim will hold polls to their respective state assemblies, simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.
Andhra Pradesh will go to Lok Sabha as well as state Assembly polls simultaneously on April 11.
Similarly, Odisha goes for simultaneous polls in four phases – April 11, April 18, April 23 and April 29.
Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh go to polls in single phases – on April 11.
What states are going to polls in all seven phases?
Polling in the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar will be spread across all seven phases.
What states are going to polls in a single phase?
Some other states and Union Territories will hold polls in a single phase:–
# Telangana goes to polls on April 11
# Tamil Nadu on April 18
# Gujarat and Kerala on April 23
# Haryana and Delhi on May 12
# Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on May 19
How many constituencies are there in India?
There are a total of 543 constituencies in India that are represented by 543 members of Parliament (MPs) in the Lok Sabha.
These members are elected directly by the citizens of India. The 29 states send 530 MPs to the Lok Sabha, while the seven Union Territories send 13 MPs.
However, it is important to note that there are a total of 545 members in the Lok Sabha, out of which 543 are elected and two are nominated by the President of India.
Who are the nominated members of the Lok Sabha?
The two members, who are nominated by the President of India, belong to the Anglo-Indian community.
Currently, the Anglo Indian nominees are Richard Hay from Kerala and George Baker from West Bengal.
Which party had won in the previous elections?
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won a total of 282 seats, 10 more than the half-way mark of 272. The saffron party entered into a coalition with several parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena, and consolidated 336 seats.
Hence the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formed the government at the Centre with Narendra Modi as the prime minister.
How many seats did the Congress win in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections?
Of the 464 seats that the Congress party contested, it won a dismal 44. It polled 23.4 percent votes as against BJP's 38.5 percent voteshare.
What was the total voter turnout in the 2014 general elections?
The total voter turnout in the 2014 general elections was 66.4 percent.
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