Highlights: LS election dates out, four states to vote for assemblies

Elections will also be held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha along with the parliamentary polls. Catch LIVE updates here

5:01 PM

BJP, Congress say confident of victory

“We are forming a government on our own,” says Desh Ratan Nigam on NDTV TV channel ahead of the election schedule. Not at all, says Aishwarya Mahadev of the Congress party.

4:41 PM

Sushma's statement sets tone for BJP's election campaign

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tells BJP workers the party will in its elections campaign attack the Opposition for “questioning” the armed forces about the 

Indian Air Force's strike on a terrorist camp in Pakistan. "We should ask questions about whether our jawans should count the dead bodies (after dropping bombs on 

terror camps) or return safely after carrying out the air strike. BJP workers should ask counter-questions to those who raise doubts about the impact of our air 

strike," Swaraj says in Delhi.

 

4:40 PM

Model code of conduct

The Election Commission's model code of conduct will come into effect once the commission finishes announcing the poll schedule. The code bars central and state 

governments from making any policy decisions or inaugurate new projects from the moment polls are announced till the end of the electoral process.

 

4:39 PM

All eyes on Election Commission's press conference

Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora, election commissioner Ashok Lavasa, and election commissioner Sushil Chandra will announce the schedule at Vigyan Bhawan, the convention centre for government events in Delhi.

4:35 PM

EC to announce Lok Sabha poll schedule at 5 pm today

The poll panel will be holding a press conference at 5 pm at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi