Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live Updates: ECI to Announce Poll Schedule Today, PM Modi Rallies for Record NDA Victory

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Saturday, March 16, at 3 pm. This announcement, which will be broadcast live, is expected to detail the dates and phases for the upcoming general elections.

The ECI's declaration will mark the commencement of a critical electoral process, with the current government's term concluding on June 16. The elections are anticipated to take place in April and May, following the pattern of the previous Lok Sabha elections, which were announced on March 10 and conducted in seven stages from April 11, with the vote count on May 23.

India's electorate has swelled to nearly 97 crore eligible voters, who will exercise their democratic rights across more than 12 lakh polling stations. In the 2019 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious with 303 seats, while the Indian National Congress secured 52 seats. The BJP, along with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, is optimistic about the forthcoming elections, aiming to maintain or even exceed their previous seat count.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in anticipation of the election schedule announcement, expressed confidence that the NDA would set new records in terms of vote share. During a significant rally in Kerala, he proclaimed that the BJP's symbol, the 'lotus,' would flourish, signaling a strong performance by the NDA in the upcoming elections. 

Modi appealed to the voters of Kerala to transform their robust support into votes, with the goal of achieving a double-digit seat count for the BJP in the state. This strategic push in Kerala is part of the BJP's broader campaign to consolidate power at the Centre and continue its governance for another term. The nation now awaits the detailed election roadmap as political parties gear up for the electoral battle ahead.