The Election Commission of India (ECI) unveiled the schedule for the highly anticipated Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand on October 15, 2024 by Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Plenary Hall at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Election dates for Maharashtra Assembly Elections are as follows-
The Election dates for Jharkhand Assembly Elections are as follows-
With the terms of both state assemblies approaching their end, the upcoming elections are crucial for both regional and national political landscapes.
The current Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s term is set to expire on November 26, 2024, while the Jharkhand Assembly will complete its term on January 5, 2025. This paves the way for elections in both states before these dates to ensure smooth transitions of power.
Maharashtra Assembly Elections
Maharashtra is poised for an intense electoral battle between two major coalitions. On one side, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, consisting of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, is looking to regain control. On the other side is the ruling Mahayuti Alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).
The political dynamics in Maharashtra have been turbulent since the 2019 elections. The BJP, in alliance with the then-undivided Shiv Sena, won the majority of seats but failed to form a government due to differences between the two parties. This led to the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which held power until a split within the Shiv Sena saw Uddhav Thackeray’s faction move into opposition.
In the most recent parliamentary elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance delivered a strong performance, winning 30 of Maharashtra’s 48 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP’s tally fell sharply to 9 seats from 23 in the previous election. However, in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, while the Congress secured 44 seats.
Jharkhand Assembly Elections
Jharkhand’s 81-member legislative assembly will also be up for election soon. The assembly comprises 44 General, 9 Scheduled Caste (SC), and 28 Scheduled Tribe (ST) constituencies. In 2019, Jharkhand conducted its assembly election in five phases, but it remains to be seen whether a similar phased approach will be taken this time.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with a team from the ECI, reviewed the state’s poll preparedness during a visit to Ranchi on September 24, 2024. The ECI has directed central and state enforcement agencies to curb the influence of money power, which has historically been a concern in the state’s elections. This time, the focus is on ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
The current political scenario in Jharkhand is dominated by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition government, with Hemant Soren as the Chief Minister. However, opposition parties, particularly the BJP, are looking to unseat the JMM and present a pro-development alternative. BJP leaders have criticized the Soren government for indulging in “vote bank and corrupt politics,” signaling that development and tribal issues will be key talking points in the run-up to the elections.
The Election Commission also announced bypolls for certain Lok Sabha and Assembly seats that have fallen vacant, adding another layer of complexity to the upcoming political contests.
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