The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, spotlighting the major political alliances INDIA bloc and NDA, are set to unfold in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. India’s gargantuan democratic event will see various parties hustling for the 543-seater parliament, with election results being expected on June 4. A minimum of 272 MP support is required to form a government. The INDIA bloc, including parties like the Congress, AAP, and TMC, faces off against the BJP-led NDA, alongside PMK and JDU, aiming for a groundbreaking win of over 400 seats.
Simultaneously, Assembly elections in key states such as Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha, coupled with 26 assembly bypolls, amplify the electoral fervor. The elections’ phase-wise timetable outlines voting to commence on April 19, with subsequent phases sprinkled across dates until June 1. Additionally, on March 28, 2024, former Congress MP S.S. Ramasubbu announced his retreat from his independent Tirunelveli candidacy.
In the fray of political happenings, the Congress released another batch of 14 candidates for the polls on March 27, with BJP fielding Navneet Rana for the Amravati constituency. Meanwhile, unexpected turns such as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman opting out of the race, highlight the unpredictability of the election atmosphere.