EC to announce Assembly election schedule for Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir today
Assembly elections update: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is scheduled to announce the dates for the Assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand today at 3 pm. The ECI is expected to reveal the timeline for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, following a significant ruling by the Supreme Court.
In an official statement, the ECI said a media briefing would be held to unveil the Assembly election schedule for the legislative assemblies of these states. This announcement will cover critical details, including dates for filing nominations, polling days, and the results declaration.
Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand are due for the Assembly elections within the next five months. The terms of the Maharashtra and Haryana Vidhan Sabha are set to end on November 3 and November 26, respectively, while Jharkhand’s term is expected to conclude in January of the following year.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are particularly noteworthy, as they follow the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding Article 370. The court set a September 30 deadline for holding the Assembly elections in the Union Territory, which has been under direct rule since the abrogation of its special status in 2019. Jammu and Kashmir has not had an elected government since 2018, making the upcoming elections a significant step toward restoring local democratic processes.
Historically, the ECI has conducted elections in Maharashtra and Haryana together, while Jharkhand’s elections were held separately. The upcoming announcement is anticipated to provide clarity on whether this practice will continue or if the elections will be staggered differently this year.
Recently, the ECI has conducted visits to Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana to evaluate electoral preparedness. However, a visit to Maharashtra has not yet occurred. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has reiterated the commission's commitment to holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir as expeditiously as possible. He assured that the people of the Union Territory would respond effectively to any challenges posed by disruptive elements.
Since the bifurcation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—in August 2019, the region has been governed by a Lieutenant Governor. The upcoming assembly elections are seen as a critical step in re-establishing an elected government and addressing the region's political needs.
- With inputs from agencies
