Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday, March 3, just days before the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The meeting at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi comes on the heels of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party unveiling its first list of candidates for the general elections.The Prime Minister has made it a priority to regularly meet with the entire council of ministers to discuss key policies, receive feedback on government initiatives, and communicate his vision on governance matters. This latest meeting is expected to focus on finalizing an election strategy as the BJP-led NDA seeks a third consecutive term. PM Modi will likely take stock of the performance of various welfare schemes and campaigns rolled out over the past decade. He is also expected to get input from ministers on the NDAs readiness for the upcoming electoral test.The Election Commission has already begun assessing preparedness in states across India. If previous timelines are followed, the formal announcement of the poll schedule could come sometime this month. In 2014, the EC publicized the nine-phase election dates on March 5, with results on May 16. For the 2019 election, the seven-phase schedule was unveiled on March 10, and votes were counted on May 23. The NDA alliance has expressed confidence about victory this summer. Sundays council meeting will be an opportunity for PM Modi to rally his cabinet and craft a cohesive gameplan as the ruling coalition bids to make history with three straight terms in power.
