With the Lok Sabha elections only a few months away, the Election Commission of India is gearing up by scheduling a meeting in Uttar Pradesh to review preparedness for the polls. The meeting is set to take place on January 30 in Lucknow, where the Commission will gather with district officers, including the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, Police Commissioner, and Divisional Commissioner from all districts. Additionally, the Election Commission will meet with all political parties on January 31.
On Wednesday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with ECs Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel, addressed a press conference in Andhra Pradesh to review poll preparedness for the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha Elections in 2024. This conference followed a two-day meeting held by the Election Commission of India with the Chief Electoral Officers of all states and Union Territories to assess their readiness for the polls.
In the previous general elections held in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made history by securing a record-breaking 303 seats out of 542, while the Congress managed to secure only 52 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first non-Congress full majority Prime Minister to be re-elected, achieved this feat with an even stronger majority than before.
As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw closer, political parties have already begun launching their campaign plans to connect with voters. However, discussions surrounding the seat-sharing agreement within the INDIA bloc for the forthcoming elections remain a major point of contention. The allocation of seats holds significant importance for the Congress, especially after the heavy defeats they faced in key states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan during the assembly elections.
The Election Commission’s meeting in Uttar Pradesh and subsequent meetings with political parties aim to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. By engaging with district officers and political representatives, the Commission intends to review the preparedness of each district and collaborate to address any potential challenges or concerns. These efforts underline the Commission’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections, thereby strengthening the democratic process in India.
