AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, March 10 (TIWN): The Model Code of Conduct came into effect on Sunday following the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule by the Election Commission.Lok Sabha elections to be held in seven phases and polling dates are on April 11, 18, 23, 29, May 6, 12, 19. Vote count will be conducted on May 23, said Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. In Tripura, voting will be conducted in 2 phases for two seats (April 11 & 18). "There are 900 million voters in total. Exams, festivals and weather were taken into account while preparing the schedule. Several rounds of discussions were also held with the Home Ministry. We also visited states to review the level of preparedness," Arora said.“As you know, 16th Lok Sabha ends on June 3, 2019, the Election Commission will ensure free,fair, inclusive polls. The scale and complexity of elections has grown over the years. We have held meetings with heads of various states, Union Territories. We assured minimum facilities at all polling stations.Efforts are also being made to make elections comfortable”, he said. "Strictest action will be taken against violations of model code of conduct", Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora added.

“10 per cent more voting booths this time, VVPATS in all of them. To ensure smooth conduct of elections, we held discussions with various departments including railways. Ten lakh voting booths will be used this as compared to 9 lakh last time. There will be extensive webcasting of sensitive voting booths. All critical events will be videographed”, the Chief Election Commissioner told media.

“There will be extensive webcasting of sensitive voting booths. All critical events will be videographed, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora says. Privacy of people who report violations will be protected and they will be informed of action taken. Google, Facebook, YouTube have said all political ads will be certified. Lok Sabha elections to be held in 7 phases from April 7, Chief Election. Results will be announced on May 23rd”, he added.

“Phase 5 and 6 voting 6 May and 19 May respectively. Phase 2 and 3 voting 18 April and 23 April respectively. 22 states will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha Polls. No state polls in Jammu and Kashmir for now, only parliamentary elections”, announced Election Commission.

The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3. As soon as the elections are announced, the model code of conduct will come into force. 

The required electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are in place to be deployed in nearly 10 lakh poling stations across 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.