Lokshabha election 2019 india

LOK SABHA ELECTIONS 2019

At Times of India, we present detailed news, phase-by-phase election updates, polling day live news and in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Elections 2019. On March 10, The Election Commission of India announced the Lok Sabha Election 2019 dates and schedule along with a set of guidelines that became effective soon after the announcement. The 2019 Lok Sabha Election is scheduled to be held from April 11 to May 19 in 7 phases unlike 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, where the elections went in 9 phases from 7 April 2014 to 12 May 2014 with result declaration on 16 May 2014. In 2014 elections, NDA won 282 seats out of 543 with absolute majority declaring Narendra Modi as the 14th Prime Minister of independent India. As per EC counting of votes will be carried out on May 23, following the declaration of results on the same day. Here is wide-ranging news on all key dates and schedules of Lok Sabha election 2019. Read the latest General Election news, poll schedule, election highlights, poll timings, exclusive insights, and results of 2019 Elections at TOI anytime.

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India election 2019: latest updates

Indian students smear colored powder during an event to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi in Kolkata in 2018.

Indian students smear colored powder during an event to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi in Kolkata in 2018.DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty ImagesThe beginning of spring

Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the start of spring.

Celebrated across India, it's an ancient festival with the first mentions of it dating all the way back to a 4th century poem.

It was even described in detail in a 7th century Sanskrit play called "Ratnavali," written by the Indian emperor Harsha.

Hindu devotees play with color during Holi celebrations at the Banke Bihari temple in 2013 in Vrindavan, India.

Hindu devotees play with color during Holi celebrations at the Banke Bihari temple in 2013 in Vrindavan, India.Daniel Berehulak//Getty ImagesMythological roots

The roots of the festival lie in the Hindu legend of Holika, a female demon, and the sister of the demon, King Hiranyakashayap.

Hiranyakashayap believed he was the ruler of the universe and superior to all the gods. But his son, Prahlad, followed the god Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe. Prahlad's decision to turn his back on his father left Hiranyakashayap with no choice. He hatched a plot with Holika to kill him.

It was a seemingly foolproof plan; Holika would take Prahlad onto her lap and straight into a bonfire. Holika would survive because she had an enchanted shawl that would protect her from the flames.

But the plan failed. Prahlad was saved by Vishnu and it was Holika who died as she was only immune to fire if she was alone. Soon after, Vishnu killed Hiranyakashayap and Prahlad became king.

The moral of the story is that good always triumphs over evil.

Indian college girls throw colored powder to one another during Holi festival celebrations in Bhopal in 2018.

Indian college girls throw colored powder to one another during Holi festival celebrations in Bhopal in 2018.AFP/Getty ImagesThe love story behind Holi

In modern day Holi celebrations, Holika's cremation is often reenacted by lighting bonfires on the night before Holi, known as Holika Dahan. Some Hindus collect the ashes and smear them on their bodies as an act of purification

Rangwali Holi takes place the next day and is an all-day affair where people throw and smear colored powder on each other.

The tradition of throwing colored powder and water is believed to originate from the mythological love story of Radha and Krishna.

Krishna, the Hindu god depicted with dark blue skin, is believed to have complained to his mother about Radha's fair complexion.

To ease her son's sadness, his mother suggests he Radha's skin color by smearing her with paint. It's believed that this is where the custom of smearing loved ones with color during Holi came from.

Read more on that here.

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Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Election Commission Issues Notification For First of Seven-phase Polls

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued the notification for the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Phase 1 will be held in 91 constituencies in 20 states and union territories. The last date for filing nominations is March 25 while scrutinisation will take place on March 26. Meanwhile, March 28 will be the last date for the withdrawal of nominations.

Polling will take place on April 11. The first phase involves all the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies of Andhra Pradesh and 17 from Telangana.

The others states and union territories going to the polls in this round are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattishgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019:Phase 1No. of Seats in the Respective StatesAndhra Pradesh (25), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Sikkim (1), Telangana (17), Uttarakhand (5), Meghalaya (2), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (1), Manipur (1), Tripura (1), Assam (5), Chhattisgarh (1), Maharashtra (7), Odisha (4), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Bihar (4), Uttar Pradesh (8) and West Bengal (2).Total No. of Seats91Total No. of States20

Notification would also be issued for Assembly elections in the four states covering all the constituencies – Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

The counting of votes would take place on May 23. The five-year term of the 16th Lok Sabha is due to expire on June 3.

The total electorate in the Lok Sabha elections is 900 million, of which 15 million voters are in the 18-19 age group, said Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been enforced in the entire country. The EC said that any violation will be dealt with in the strictest manner.

There will be approximately 10 lakh polling stations in this Lok Sabha Elections as compared to 9 lakh polling stations in 2014. The Lok Sabha Elections 2019 will be held in seven phases instead of nine.