CLAIM
A list of dates is viral on social media, claiming to be that of the fast-approaching 2019 general election. The list, shared by several people across Facebook and WhatsApp reads:
Election 2019 For All India
- Bihar =April 10,17,24,30 and May 7,12.
- Odisha =April 10,17
- West Bengal=April 17,24,30 and may 7,12
- Jhadkhand=April 10,17,24
- Chatisgarh=10,17,24
- MP=April 10,17,24
- Goa=April 17
- Gujarat=April 30
- Maharashtra=April 17,24
- Rajasthan=April 17,24
- Haryana=April 10
- Himnchal p=May 17
- J&K =April 10,17,24,30 and May 7
- Uttarakhand =May
- Karnataka =April 17
- Kerala =April 10
- Tamilnadu=April 24
- AP =April 30,May
- Manipur =April 9,17
- Meghalaya=April 9
- Mijoram=April 9
- Nagaland=April 9
- Arunanchal Pradesh=April 9
- Assam=April 7,12,24
- Simon=April 12
- Tripura=April 7,12
- Andaman =April 10
- Chandigarh =April 10
- Badranagar habeli =April 30
- Laxyadip =April 10
- Delhi =April 10
सबसे पहले अपने ग्रुप में सुची (Translated: Information first on our group)
TRUE OR FALSE?
Well, several things in the list indicate that it is fake. For one, the glaring spelling errors such as “Badranagar habeli” for Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and "Laxyadip" for Lakshadweep, among others.
Secondly, The Election Commission of India (ECI) generally announces the election schedule via a press conference and a subsequent official press release. Also, the announcement of the dates for the general elections is a widely covered eventuality, and would have definitely been covered by the media.
Further, The Quint spoke with an official spokesperson from the ECI, who confirmed that these were not the authentic dates.
THEN WHAT IS THIS LIST?
The list, which has now gone viral as the one with election dates, is actually the schedule for the 2014 elections.
The same list has now been rehashed and made to appear as though it is a newly released schedule.
EC DIRECTS PROBE INTO FAKE LIST
The Election Commission on 17 January directed the Delhi chief electoral officer to ask the city police to investigate the "fake news" of Lok Sabha poll schedule being circulated on social media.
The CEO has also been asked to seek action against unnamed persons and entities under relevant laws to prevent rumour mongering,
(This story was updated at 9.37 am on 18 January to reflect the EC’s probe into the fake list.)
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