Higlights: Election Commission announces polling dates for Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha elections 2019: After the announcement of the election date, the model code of conduct will also come into force. Catch LIVE updates here

The wait for the dates of Lok Sabha elections 2019 will ended with the Election Commission's press conference on Sunday. 

After the announcement of the election date, the model code of conduct, which bars the government from announcing policy decisions, has into force. 

ALSO READ: A peek into the 28-page document Oppn will use to fight Modi in LS polls

While Narendra Modi-led NDA will be seeking a second term, the Opposition led by Congress is planning to form a grand alliance to take on Modi. Here are highlights about the election schedule.

2:58 PM

Rajinikanth won't contest Tamil Nadu by-elections

Film actor Rajinikanth says he will not contest by-polls for 21 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, avoiding elections two years after he announced he was joining politics. "Sorry, I cannot say anything now," he said in Chennai when he was asked which party will he support in the by-elections.

2:11 PM

BJP can tamper with voting machines: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar says his party workers should be alert against the BJP tampering with electronic voting machines (EVM) in elections. "The BJP cannot be trusted. On the day of polling, you better visit the polling booth in the morning and see if the voting is taking place properly or not," Pawar was quoted by news agency PTI as saying in Mumbai.

2:03 PM

Model code of conduct

The Election Commission's model code of conduct will come into effect once the poll dates are announced. The code bars the central and state governments from making any policy decisions or inaugurate new projects from the moment polls are announced till the end of the electoral process. 

1:32 PM

Have no ambition for PM's post: Nitin Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari says he doesn't aspire to be Prime Minister. "Neither there is anything like this in my mind nor RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh) has any such thing. Nation comes supreme for us," he told news agency PTI on Sunday.

1:19 PM

Meanwhile, the poll panel headed by Sunil Arora also rolled out a list allotting the common party symbols to 39 registered un-recognised parties 

1:13 PM

1 million poling stations across 543 Lok Sabha constituencies

Electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are in place to be deployed in nearly 1 million poling stations across 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.

 

 

1:12 PM

There is a high probability of the elections being spread across seven to eight phases this time

12:52 PM

12:44 PM

Naveen Patnaik announces 33% quota for women

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in an election rally in Kendrapara announces 33% quota for women in allocation of Lok Sabha seats for BJD party.

Source: ANI

12:33 PM

Will J&K assembly elections be held with Lok Sabha polls?

Centre and state administration are against holding the two elections together.

 

However, all political parties in the state favoured simultaneous polls during a meeting with the Election Commission earlier this week.

12:13 PM

Assembly elections in some states can be held along with Lok Sabha polls

There is a strong possibility that the EC may go by the precedent and hold assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh along with the Lok Sabha polls

 

Source: PTI

11:54 AM

Notification for the first phase could be issued by the end of March for voting in early April, according to PTI

11:47 AM

As soon as the election dates are announced, the model code of conduct will come into force

11:44 AM

EC to announce Lok Sabha poll schedule at 5 pm today

The poll panel will be holding a press conference at 5 pm at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi