In a significant announcement made on Tuesday, the Central Election Commission (CEC) confirmed that assembly elections for 288 seats in Maharashtra will be conducted in a single phase on November 20. Meanwhile, neighboring Jharkhand will hold its assembly elections in two phases on November 13 and November 20, culminating in the counting of votes scheduled for November 23 in both states. Central Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar shared the details in a press conference, marking the implementation of the model code of conduct across both regions, which is pivotal as the election dates approach.
The political atmosphere in Maharashtra is particularly charged this year, with attention focused on the multi-level, multi-party contest between the ruling Grand Alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. With the current term of Maharashtra's Legislative Assembly set to end on November 26, the timing of the results will leave newly elected officials only three days to form a government. This election cycle is especially notable as past elections in Maharashtra have generally been held in October; however, due to the assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir this year, the state elections have been postponed.
In 2019, the previous elections saw the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and the Congress-NCP alliance contesting together. This year, due to splits within the two parties, the political landscape has evolved into a contest between a grand alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena-Shinde group, and NCP-Ajit Pawar group versus the Mahavikas Aghadi coalition comprising Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar group), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray group). With 288 seats at stake, a majority requires 145 seats, and early indicators suggest a highly competitive race. In Jharkhand, voting for 81 assembly seats will occur in two phases, with results also expected on November 23.
Additionally, a by-election for the Lok Sabha seat in Nanded will coincide with the assembly elections on November 20, following the passing of Congress MP Vasant Chavan. The CEC has also addressed recent controversies, firmly rejecting calls for the removal of Rashmi Shukla, the State Director General of Police, despite opposition party demands. Furthermore, the request from the NCP (Sharad Pawar group) to freeze the 'Tutari' election symbol was denied, with assurances provided that the symbol will be made sufficiently distinct on voting machines to avoid confusion among voters.
With election notifications already released and deadlines for nomination filings, scrutiny, and withdrawals set, both Maharashtra and Jharkhand are gearing up for a politically significant November. Voters are encouraged to prepare for the polls, as the outcomes hold the potential to reshape the political landscape in these key Indian states.