In a significant announcement, the Election Commission of India (ECI) unveiled the schedule for the forthcoming assembly elections in five states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. The Chhattisgarh elections will be conducted in two phases, with the first round of voting scheduled for November 7 and the second phase for November 17. Madhya Pradesh will go to the polls on November 17, while Mizoram is set for voting on November 7. Rajasthan’s election day is November 23, and Telangana will cast their votes on November 30, all in a single phase.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar made this significant announcement during a press conference. The counting of votes for all five states will take place on December 3. These elections are of paramount importance as they represent the last set of assembly elections preceding the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The imposition of the Model Code of Conduct coincides with this announcement, and it marks the initiation of the electoral process in these states. The outcome of these assembly elections will be closely watched, as they will serve as a critical indicator of the political landscape leading up to the national elections in April-May next year.
The term of the Mizoram assembly concludes on December 17, with the Mizo National Front currently holding power in the northeastern state. Meanwhile, the legislative assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are set to expire on different dates in January next year. It’s noteworthy that Telangana is governed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Madhya Pradesh by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress party holds sway in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Approximately 16 crore eligible voters will participate in these assembly elections across Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana. A total of 1.77 lakh polling stations will be deployed for these elections, with over 1.01 lakh stations equipped with webcasting facilities. Additionally, more than 8,000 polling stations will be managed by women.
The elections will encompass 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters, with 60.2 lakh voters participating for the first time. Chief Election Commissioner Kumar emphasized the importance of these elections for the nation, signifying their significance as a precursor to the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.
Extensive consultations with political parties and law enforcement agencies have been held in preparation for these elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
The Election Commission has laid a special emphasis on ensuring inclusive electoral rolls and is committed to a “roll-to-poll” strategy to encourage all eligible voters to exercise their franchise.
