New Delhi: A letter from the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office that emerged on social media on Monday, created a buzz that the 2024 Lok Sabha election will be held on April 16. T
The notification said the Election Commission of India had “tentatively given the poll day as April 16, 2024… for the purpose of reference and to calculate Start and End dates in the Election Planner”.
The notification was issued to all 11 District Election Officers in Delhi, and is titled “Compliance/adhering to timelines given in Election Planner of Election Commission of India”. Needless to say, this sparked speculation and queries.
Realising this, the Delhi CEO’s office posted on X, stressing the date was “reference only.”
“Some media queries are coming referring to a circular by Delhi Chief Electoral Officer’s Office to clarify whether April 16, 2024 is tentative poll day for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”
Some media queries are coming referring to a circular by @CeodelhiOffice to clarify whether 16.04.2024 is tentative poll day for #LSElections2024
It is clarified that this date was mentioned only for ‘reference’for officials to plan activities as per Election Planner of ECI.— CEO, Delhi Office (@CeodelhiOffice) January 23, 2024
“It is clarified this date was mentioned only for ‘reference’ (and) for officials to plan activities as per Election Planner of Election Commission of India,” the note on X (formerly Twitter) said.
A follow-up post by the Delhi CEO’s office also tagged the Election Commission of India, which reposted the clarification. The process of setting a “reference only” date is standard practice while planning for one of the world’s most complicated electoral exercises, NDTV reported quoting sources.
While the actual date has yet to be confirmed, it is most likely that elections will be held sometime in April in a phased manner and continue till in May. The 2019 election was held over seven phases, starting April 11 and ending May 19, with results declared May 23.
