India: Third phase of elections scheduled April 23 /update 1

Event

India is scheduled to hold its third phase of general elections on Tuesday, April 23, in states and constituencies across the country. Voters in Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal states will go the polls on Tuesday to elect representatives to the lower house of parliament, Lok Sabha. A heightened security presence is expected near polling stations and high-profile government or security force facilities and disruptions to commercial activity, government services, and transportation is expected on Tuesday. Political gatherings are possible and violence between political rivals cannot be ruled out.

Officials have reported incidents during previous phases of voting, particularly a high number of mob violence on election day. Other incidents of violence reported included bombings and clashes with security forces, particularly in states experiencing ongoing Maoist, or Naxalite, insurgencies, such as Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. Further such incidents are possible on Tuesday and during the remainder of the election period, which is set to last until May 19.

Context

India is holding general elections for Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, from April 11 to May 19. An estimated 900 million Indians are eligible to vote for 543 seats in seven phases: April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12, and May 19. Votes will be tallied and announced on May 23.

Advice

Individuals in India are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate a heightened security presence and associated business, government, and transportation disruptions, avoid all public gatherings as a precaution, adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments, and refrain from discussing political topics in public or on social media.