Assembly elections in 5 states from Nov 7-30; results on Dec 3
The results from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram may set the trend for 2024
Election Commission announced the dates for assembly elections in five states — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram. The EC scheduled a press conference for this, addressed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel.
Mizoram will vote on November 7, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, and Telangana on November 30. The results for all 5 states will be on December 3.
The results of the assembly elections are crucial as they may determine the voting pattern for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. This is the first major election to be held after the formation of the INDIA bloc. Though the INDIA alliance has been formed with the 2024 general election in mind, how the members tackle polls as allies will be keenly watched.
Political analysts believe lessons gained from the five assembly polls could give important pointers to all political parties on the electorate’s behaviour and help them make strategies accordingly.
The BJP is unlikely to announce its chief ministerial candidate in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and instead ask for votes in the name of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Congress is currently the ruling party in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the BJP is the incumbent in Madhya Pradesh. These three states will feature a primarily two-sided contest between the BJP and the Congress.
The Congress is trying to buck the trend in Rajasthan which traditionally votes against the party in power every five years. The BJP is facing anti-incumbency and a fatigue factor in Madhya Pradesh after having Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the chief minister for the past 15 years.
In Telangana, the BRS is facing a resurgent Congress after being in power for two terms with K Chandrashekar Rao at the helm.
Mizoram will witness a fight between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), which seems to have replaced the Congress as the principal opposition in the state.
The Aam Aadmi Party is ready to contest the upcoming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan with full strength and the names of candidates will be declared soon, its national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Monday.
BJP president J P Nadda on Monday welcomed the election commission's (EC) announcement of assembly polls in five states and claimed his party will form government in all the states with a big majority under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
"The BJP will form government in all states with a big majority under respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and will work with commitment to fulfil people's aspirations in the next five years," he said on X, soon after the EC's announcement of the poll schedule.
For a healthy democratic polity, we urge all to cooperate and follow the laid down parameters and guidelines, said the CEC.
He added that the EC's endeavour is to ensure free fair peaceful elections amidst a level playing field for all concerned. "The EC will not hesitate to take stern action against the violators," he added.
To enhance oversight for an inducement free election, the EC has developed the Election Seizure Management System for real-time updates on seizures, said the CEC. The tech will also work toward seamless coordination among enforcement agencies. It will also to facilitate qualitative analysis and planning.
EC's Integrated Election Expenditure Monitoring System to facilitate compliance by parties in disclosure of their financial reports is also being used. Some parties already started submitting their reports online, said CEC Kumar.
To ensure free, fair and inducement-free elections, awareness and cooperation of citizens are key, he added. Citizens can report any kind of malpractices to the EC through the Vigil App. Complaints will be responded to in 10 minutes, he said.
For informed voting, all the information including “Criminal Antecedents” of the candidates, if any, is available on the KYC app of EC and https://affidavit.eci.gov.in portal.
Over 940 inter-state border check posts in five states to check any cross border movement of illicit cash, liquor, drugs have been planned.
Around 60 lakh first-time voters(18-19 years) will participate in the elections of the five states. Around 15.39 lakh young voters are eligible to participate in elections due to an amendment on qualifying dates, said the CEC.
To inspire young voters, over 2,900 polling stations will be managed by youth.
"With our sincere efforts, the electoral roll gender ratio enhanced in all 5 states vis-a-vis 2018. Elector gender ratio in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram is greater than 1,000. We urge all women voters to participate enthusiastically in the forthcoming elections," said the CEC.