Overview

• The Election Commission of India will announce the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates at 3 pm on March 16, along with dates for four state assembly elections.
• The Supreme Court refused to stay the appointment of new Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, under a law excluding the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel.
• The appointments of Kumar and Sandhu come ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, filling vacancies created by retirements and a resignation.
• Criticism arose over the selection process for the new Election Commissioners, with the Congress expressing concerns about the procedure and transparency.
• The Model Code of Conduct will come into effect immediately after the election dates are announced.