The Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in five states – Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana – on Monday, October 8, 2023.
The poll panel has called a press conference at 12 PM today to announce the polling dates, the number of phases, and the dates for filing and withdrawing nominations, reported news agency PTI.
The terms of the legislative assemblies in these five states are due to expire between December 2023 and January 2024. The ECI typically announces the election schedule six to eight weeks before the term of the legislative assembly expires.
The upcoming assembly elections will be a major test for all the major political parties, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition Congress, and the regional parties.
The Congress is in power in two of the five states – Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the BJP is the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh. The KCR-led Bharat Rashtra Samiti is in power in Telangana, and the Mizo National Front (MNF) is in power in Mizoram.
Earlier, EC sources told India Today that polling is likely to be held between the second week of November and the first week of December.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Telangana may vote in a single phase, like the last time in 2018, EC sources said.
In Chhattisgarh, polling is likely to be held in two phases, similar to how it happened in 2018, they added.
The polling dates for all the five states may be different. Counting of votes will happen together in the five states between October 10 and 15, the sources said.
Source: India Today