Dates are decided based on the geography of regions and other factors such as public holidays, festivals and examinations, Chief election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference on saturday when asked about the long-duration of polls. He was also asked if this long schedule could work against opposition parties. “It has been asked why elections are being held in seven phases and opposition parties have alleged that it may disturb the level-playing field…,” Kumar said.

The country’s first general election was held between october 25, 1951, and february 21, 1952, the longest so far. During the 1951-52 election, 489 seats of the lok sabha were allotted across 401 constituencies in 25 states. There were 314 constituencies electing one member using the first-past-the-post system, and 86 constituencies elected two members, one from the general category and one from scheduled castes or scheduled tribes. One constituency elected three representatives.