7-phase LS polls over 44 days to start April 19, results on June 4
Deccan ChronicleNew Delhi: The Election Commission on Saturday got the ball rolling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections that will begin from April 19 and end on June 1. In fact, some reports indicated that the prolonged elections in West Bengal along with the use of excessive security forces in the state to check violence was one of the trigger points for election commissioner Arun Goel to resign around ten days back. “Dushmani jam kar karo, lekin ye gunjaish rahe ki jab kabhi hum dost ho jayen tau sharminda na hon,” the CEC said, using a dash of poetry on and off during the announcement. On the reason for not holding Assembly elections in Jammu Kashmir along with the Lok Sabha polls, the CEC said the state needed more security forces for the protection of candidates and it was not possible at present to spare additional security staff. “EC stands committed to holding Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir soon after the LS elections,” Kumar said.