Maharashtra to vote in single phase on Nov 20; Jharkhand polling scheduled for Nov 13 and 20 | Key Dates and Details
Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024: The Election Commission of India, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, on Tuesday announced an extensive schedule for the forthcoming Assembly elections and bypolls across several states, including Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. The announcements were made at a press conference.
Maharashtra Assembly Elections
Maharashtra will witness a single-phase polling process, with 288 constituencies at stake.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the election schedule:
Date of Notification Issued: October 22, 2024
Last Date for Nominations: October 29, 2024
Scrutiny of Nominations: October 30, 2024
Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidature: November 4, 2024
Polling Date: November 20, 2024
Counting of Votes: November 23, 2024
The CEC expressed concerns over low voter turnout in urban areas, citing that Colaba only recorded a 40% polling rate in the recent Lok Sabha Elections. He highlighted the need for increased voter participation, especially in Maharashtra, which has a significant urban population. "We’ll do everything to address this," he stated, noting that Doda achieved over 70% turnout, which serves as a benchmark for urban constituencies like Colaba. The Election Commission will also be implementing measures to ensure voter accessibility, including seating arrangements for those waiting in lines and provisions for elderly and disabled voters to cast their votes from home.
Jharkhand Assembly Elections
The elections in Jharkhand will be conducted in two phases, covering 81 constituencies:
First Phase: 43 constituencies
Date of Notification Issued: October 18, 2024
Last Date for Nominations: October 25, 2024
Scrutiny of Nominations: October 28, 2024
Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidature: October 30, 2024
Polling Date: November 13, 2024
Second Phase: 38 constituencies
Date of Notification Issued: October 22, 2024
Last Date for Nominations: October 29, 2024
Scrutiny of Nominations: October 30, 2024
Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidature: November 1, 2024
Polling Date: November 20, 2024
The counting of votes for both phases will occur on November 23, 2024. Jharkhand has a total electorate of over 2.6 crore, including 11.84 lakh first-time voters, and the Election Commission has made arrangements to facilitate a smooth voting process.
By-Elections and Additional Updates
In addition to the Assembly elections, the Election Commission has also announced by-elections for various constituencies, including the Wayanad constituency, which will take place concurrently with the Jharkhand elections:
Wayanad By-Election:
Date of Notification Issued: October 18, 2024
Last Date for Nominations: October 25, 2024
Scrutiny of Nominations: October 28, 2024
Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidature: October 30, 2024
Polling Date: November 13, 2024
Counting of Votes: November 23, 2024
By-elections will also be conducted for the Uttarakhand Assembly constituency alongside the Maharashtra polls.
EC's appeal to political parties
During the press conference, CEC Rajiv Kumar expressed concerns over the influence of exit polls, stating that they could distract voters and misrepresent electoral outcomes. He called for media introspection regarding the dissemination of exit poll data and the immediate reporting of leads during counting. Kumar emphasised that the counting results are officially published on the Election Commission's website only after each round is completed, urging political parties to maintain a level playing field throughout the electoral process.
The Election Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent and orderly election process, appealing to the public and political parties alike to engage responsibly in the upcoming elections.
- With inputs from agencies
