The Election Commission today announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections that will be held from April 19 in seven phases, with results on June 4.

Twenty-one states will contest in Phase 1 of the elections on April 1, 13 in Phase 2 on April 26, 12 in Phase 3 on May 7, ten in Phase 4 on May 13, eight in Phase 5 on May 20, seven in Phase 6 on May 25  and eight in Phase 7 on  June 1.

The tenure of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16 and a new House will have to be constituted before that.

The tenure of Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha assemblies will also end in June. With the announcement of election dates, the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect.

The first phase of elections is set for April 19, with the deadline for candidate nominations being March 27. These elections will span across 21 States and Union Territories.

Following this, the second phase of elections will commence on April 26, with the nomination deadline on April 4. This phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories.

Moving on to the third phase, elections are scheduled for May 7, and the nomination deadline is April 20. This phase will also encompass 12 States and Union Territories.

Subsequently, the fourth phase of elections will be held on May 13, with the nomination deadline on April 25, covering 10 States and Union Territories.

The fifth phase is set for May 20, with the nomination deadline on May 3 and covering 8 States and Union Territories.

On May 25, the sixth phase of elections will take place, with the nomination deadline on May 6, spanning across 7 States and Union Territories.

Finally, the seventh phase of elections is scheduled for June 1, with the nomination deadline on May 14, covering 8 States and Union Territories.

In the first phase, polling will occur in 102 constituencies, while the second phase will see 89 constituencies going to polls. The following phases will witness polling in 94, 96, 49, 57, and 57 constituencies, respectively.