Many candidates know what needs to be done in a campaign but struggle with when to do it. A structured political campaign plan prevents last minute chaos. This 90 day calendar assumes basic groundwork such as surveys and team formation has already started. Adapt it to your seat, budget and election type.
Before You Start: Set Your Targets
Write down three numbers: total voters, expected turnout and the vote count you need to win. If a seat has 2.5 lakh voters with 65 percent turnout in a multi cornered fight, the winning number may be well below half of the votes cast. Knowing your target tells you how many supporters you must identify and mobilise.
Days 90 to 61: Foundation and Visibility
Week 1 and 2
- Finalise the campaign manager, booth coordinators and media team.
- Complete or update your constituency survey.
- Freeze your core message and three main promises.
- Set up a campaign office and a simple daily reporting system.
Week 3 and 4
- Begin jan sampark in high priority areas.
- Launch or refresh your social media pages with consistent branding.
- Form booth committees in at least half of all booths.
- Start a contact database of supporters, influencers and volunteers.
Days 60 to 31: Persuasion
Week 5 and 6
- Hold small group meetings with farmers, traders, women’s groups, youth and senior citizens.
- Release issue based videos addressing local problems.
- Complete booth committees in all booths and train them.
- Track feedback in a weekly review meeting.
Week 7 and 8
- Run a mid campaign pulse survey to check movement.
- Adjust message and focus areas based on results.
- Prepare nomination documents, including the Form 26 affidavit, with legal help.
- Plan rally schedule and apply for permissions once required.
Days 30 to 8: Intensive Outreach
Week 9 and 10
- File nomination within the notified dates.
- Start door to door campaigns with booth workers.
- Hold major public meetings and roadshows with proper permissions.
- Maintain a daily expenditure register as required by the Election Commission.
Week 11 and 12
- Focus on swing booths where small efforts can change results.
- Respond quickly but calmly to opponents’ claims.
- Get every paid political advertisement pre-certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee.
- Finalise polling agent list and complete training.
Days 7 to 1: Mobilisation
- Distribute voter information to supporters, such as booth location and serial number.
- Confirm polling day roles for every worker.
- Stop public campaigning when the silence period begins. Under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, public meetings and election matter display through media are prohibited in the 48 hours ending with the close of poll.
- Set up a war room for polling day communication.
Polling Day
- Polling agents reach booths before mock poll.
- Booth teams track which supporters have voted and remind others.
- War room handles complaints and coordinates teams.
Counting Day
- Counting agents trained to observe each round and raise objections correctly.
- Media statement prepared for both outcomes.
Tips to Make the Plan Work
- Review progress every week with numbers, not impressions.
- Keep a reserve budget for the final two weeks.
- Assign every task to one named person.
- Protect the candidate’s time for voter contact.
Conclusion
A political campaign plan turns energy into results. Use this 90 day calendar as a base and customise it after an honest look at your constituency. For a deeper look at the early stages, read our guide on how to win an assembly election.
Need Help With Your Campaign?
DB PR Solution is a Delhi based election management and political PR firm in New Ashok Nagar, Delhi 110096. We help candidates and parties with strategy, surveys, booth management, digital campaigns and media outreach. Call +91 8858986989, email dbprsolution@gmail.com or send us a message to discuss your constituency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 90 days enough to run a campaign?
For the active phase, yes, but groundwork like surveys, booth networks and visibility should begin many months earlier.
When should the campaign stop on polling week?
Public campaigning must stop 48 hours before the close of poll under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
How often should the campaign team meet?
A short daily check in and a detailed weekly review work well for most campaigns.