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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the dates for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Maharashtra voters will head to the polls on November 20th, while Jharkhand will hold its elections in two phases, on November 13th and November 20th. The counting of votes for both states is scheduled for November 23rd.
The announcement came during a press conference held in New Delhi on October 15th, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The commission outlined the key dates for the nomination process, including the issuance of the Gazette notification on October 22nd, the deadline for filing nominations on October 29th, the scrutiny of nominations on October 30th, and the final withdrawal date for candidates on November 4th.
The upcoming Maharashtra election is anticipated to be a fierce contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, and the ruling Mahayuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). The BJP secured a significant victory in the 2019 assembly election, winning 105 seats, while the Congress secured 44 seats. However, the BJP's performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections saw a decline, winning only nine seats out of 48, compared to 23 in the previous term. The MVA coalition won 30 seats in the Lok Sabha election.
In Jharkhand, the term of the current assembly ends on January 5th, 2025. Elections for the 81 constituencies are expected to be held by December 2024. The 2019 elections were conducted in five phases, and the BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed confidence in a pro-incumbency vote, criticizing Hemant Soren's governance and predicting a BJP-led government in the state.
The upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand hold significant political implications, likely influencing the national political landscape. The outcomes will be closely watched as they could impact the power dynamics at the national level, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.