The Election Commission is likely to announce the poll schedule for the 16th Lok Sabha and for the Legislative Assemblies of integrated Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim, and by-polls in some Assembly constituencies in different States in a day or two.
Since the 32-member Sikkim House has to be constituted before May 21 as the current Assembly’s term ends that day, the poll schedule is being worked out to ensure that the results are out and a cushion period of at least a week is given for government formation well before that date.
The 15th Lok Sabha (total strength 543 excluding two nominated members) will have term till May 31, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly (294) till June 2, and the Odisha Assembly (147) till June 7. Counting of votes may be scheduled for the second week of May. Sources said the polls might be held in five to seven phases with trouble-prone and sensitive States like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Assam and some North-Eastern States having multi-phase elections.
