Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders have been seen frequenting the poll-bound states to bolster the party's vote base not only for the state elections but also to set the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Meanwhile, Congress is trying to retain its hold and gain the lost ground.
The Election Commission of India on Monday announced the poll schedule for assembly elections to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. In a press conference, the ECI said that assembly elections for the five states will begin on November 7 and go on till November 30.
Mizoram will be the first to go to polls on November 7. Chhattisgarh, which is the only state where polls will be held in two phases, will head for elections on November 7 and November 17. Polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17, whereas in Rajasthan polls will be conducted on November 25. Telangana will be the last state to go to polls on November 30. The counting of votes will be held on December 3 for all the states.
The terms of the legislative assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end on different dates in January next year.
Addressing the press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, "As we stand on the cusp of elections in these states, it is worth noting that these polls hold a unique significance, but also for the nation." He said that the Commission met all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies ahead of five assembly polls to ensure a smooth and “healthy” conduct of the polls.
Kumar also appealed to all voters, especially those in urban areas, to come to vote in large numbers. Nearly 16 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming state elections.
The assembly elections will have 1.77 lakh polling stations, of which a webcasting facility will be available at 1.01 lakh booths to bring about transparency.
Mizoram
The 40-seat assembly of Mizoram will be among the first states to go to polls on November 7.
Date of issue of Gazette Notification: October 13
Last date for nominations: October 20
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: October 23
Date of polling: November 7
Counting of votes: December 3
Date of completion of election: December 5
Chhattisgarh
Polls in the 90-seat assembly will be held in two phases. The first phase of voting will be conducted on November 7 and the second and final phase will be held on November 17.
Phase I
Date of issue of Gazette Notification: October 13
Last date for nominations: October 20
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: October 23
Date of polling: November 7
Counting of votes: December 3
Date of completion of election: December 5
Phase II
Date of issue of Gazette Notification: October 21
Last date for nominations: October 30
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: November 2
Date of polling: November 17
Counting of votes: December 3
Date of completion of election: December 5
Madhya Pradesh
Voting in the 230-seat assembly of Madhya Pradesh will be held in a single phase on November 17.
Date of issue of Gazette Notification: October 21
Last date for nominations: October 30
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: November 2
Date of polling: November 17
Counting of votes: December 3
Date of completion of election: December 5
Rajasthan
The 200-seat assembly of Rajasthan will be head for polls in a single phase on November 25. At the presser, it was announced that Rajasthan elections will be held on November 23. However, the dates were changed due to "large-scale wedding/social engagements on that day".
Date of issue of Gazette Notification: October 30
Last date for nominations: November 6
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: November 9
Date of polling: November 25
Counting of votes: December 3
Date of completion of election: December 5
Telangana
Voting in the 119-seat assembly of Telangana will be held in a single phase on November 30. Telangana will be the last state to go to polls this year.
Date of issue of Gazette Notification: November 3
Last date for nominations: November 10
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: November 15
Date of polling: November 30
Counting of votes: December 3
Date of completion of election: December 5
There has been a lot of buzz around the elections this season, especially in view of the bigger poll season – the Lok Sabha elections – next year. Last month, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ debate had spawned speculations that the dates for Assembly elections may be synchronised. However, there has been no formal discussion or confirmation on the same.
Preparations have begun with political parties conducting campaigns in various places. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other top leaders of the BJP have been seen frequenting the poll-bound states to bolster the party's vote base not only for the state elections but also to set the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, the Congress is trying to retain its hold in Rajasthan where it has seen frequent infighting between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, as well as in Chhattisgarh where it is facing challenges against the BJP to secure its OBC votebank. The BJP, on the other hand, has skillfully kept the issue of religious conversion simmering, along with allegations of scams and corruption against the government. For Congress, promises of a nationwide caste census and fast-forwarding of women’s reservation bill implementation are among the top agendas across its campaigns.
In Rajasthan, the party announced it will begin its election campaign on October 16, the slogan for which is “Kaam kiya dil se, Congress fir se". The grand old party also virtually endorsed Kamal Nath as their chief ministerial face for Madhya Pradesh yesterday. MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is fighting anti-incumbency amid speculations that the BJP might choose a different CM face this time. They have not made any announcement yet.
In Telangana, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is seeking a third consecutive win with the idea that a vote against it is a vote against Telangana. The party is however facing several challenges against the BJP in opposition which is trying to make inroads in the state. In Mizoram, the Mizo National Front (MNF) is fighting to hold its turf.
In 2018, Madhya Pradesh had a 75.5% voter turnout, Telangana 73.7%, Rajasthan had a 74.6% turnout and it was 81.5% in Mizoram.