Following the Election Commission’s announcement of the Lok Sabha elections being conducted in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, opposition parties have greeted the decision positively. However, some have raised concerns that the staggered polling schedule could favor the BJP. The Congress has also emphasized that the forthcoming elections represent a final opportunity to safeguard democracy.
The Trinamool Congress has also remarked that the poll body did not consider the West Bengal government’s proposal of conducting the elections in one or two phases. It stated that the seven-phase polling in the state once again will aid “parties with deeper pockets”.
The 44-day voting duration will be the second longest after the first Lok Sabha election in 1951-52, which extended across four months.
In a Saturday post on X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the 2024 elections will usher in the era of Nyay (justice) for India, alluding to the party’s programs aimed at different segments of society.
“2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the ‘Door of NYAY’ for India. This would be perhaps the last chance to save Democracy and our Constitution from Dictatorship. ‘We the people of India’ will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities,” he posted.
Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Kharge remarked that a seven-phase election indicates that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to tour everywhere” and it could have been concluded in three or four phases.
“We are not anxious about what is going to happen, but Modiji putting seven phases, it means that he wants to tour everywhere. In this country, I have also contested nearly 12 elections and there hardly used to be four phases. Sometimes it used to be even one phase,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
Highlighting that almost all development activities will cease from Saturday due to the enforcement of the model code of conduct, the Congress leader stated, “…Stopping nearly 70-80 days, imagine how the country will progress? Because of the election code of conduct…materials will not be supplied. Budget will not be spent. So, according to me, this is not good. He could have completed within three or four phases.”
Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera remarked that these “milestone” elections are occurring under “a cloud of scams” of electoral bonds, jailing, suspension and raiding of opposition parties and politicians, and freezing of funds of the main national opposition party.
TKS Elangovan, spokesperson of the DMK, which is the opposition party with the second-highest number of Lok Sabha MPs, remarked that waiting until June 4 for the results is something that the party will need to “prepare” for.
“We anticipated that Tamil Nadu will come in the first phase (on April 19), however, waiting till June 4, is one question that the party has to get prepared for,” he said.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had previously stated that the elections in West Bengal should be conducted in one or two phases, mentioned that seven rounds of polling will aid parties with deeper pockets.
“We wanted a single or twin phase Lok Sabha election in the state. Our views were that a multiple-phase election helps political parties with deeper pockets, and gives them an advantage over others,” Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya was quoted as saying by PTI.
“The 2021 assembly elections were held in eight phases and it was said that this was being done due to the pandemic. So now, what is the reason for holding elections in seven phases? There is no valid reason,” she said, adding that the Trinamool Congress hoped that the Election Commission would work in an “impartial” manner.
“The state government’s views were not taken into account. This is a disregard for the federal structure. We fail to understand the reasons for holding such a long election. This is quite surprising,” Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, Arvind Kejriwal, urged the public to cast their votes in favor of his party.
“The dates of Lok Sabha polls in the country have been declared. It’s a great festival of democracy. I appeal to all the countrymen to vote this time against dictatorship and hooliganism,” he said.
“The AAP works for real issues of the people and facilitates them. Strengthen our hands by voting on ‘jhaadu’ (broom, the AAP’s election symbol) wherever our candidates are contesting the polls, so that we can work for you with more energy,” he added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated that the Maha Vikas Aghadi, a coalition comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and his party, is prepared for the elections. “We only want the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls… The MVA will announce its candidates after the rally in Mumbai tomorrow,” Mr Raut told PTI.
The faction led by Sharad Pawar within the NCP, however, raised questions about why the elections were being conducted in five phases in Maharashtra, which, with 48 seats, sends the second-highest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha.
“Five phases in Maharashtra. What is the BJP trying to do? Is this fear or EVM?” Clyde Crasto, national spokesperson of the party, posted on X.