NEWDELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the much-anticipated schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in five states – Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram – on Monday. The poll panel is expected to announce the full assembly election schedule for five states in a press briefing to be held this afternoon.
The top poll body will be holding a press conference to give a brief about the preparations that will undertaken to ensure fair and smooth conduct of the election process and the dates when voters will exercise their franchise in these five states.
According to news agency ANI, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will hold a press conference around 12 noon to give a brief about the preparations that will be undertaken to ensure fair and smooth conduct of the election process and the dates when voters will exercise their franchise in these five states.
Presently, the BJP holds power in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress governs in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is in power in Telangana under the leadership of K Chandrasekhar Rao, and the Mizo National Front (MNF), an ally of BJP, holds power in Mizoram.
These assembly polls are significant as they come just months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP-led NDA aims for a third consecutive term in office.
The opposition has united under the mega I.N.D.I.A bloc to challenge the PM Narendra Modi-led government in the general elections, with over 25 parties collaborating for the polls. However, there has been no announcement regarding their PM candidate or seat distribution within the alliance. It appears that this alliance is primarily for the parliamentary elections, as most parties continue to contest the assembly elections individually.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh will elect legislators from 230 Assembly constituencies. In the 2018 elections, the Congress secured 114 seats with a vote share of 41.5%, while the BJP won 109 seats with a vote share of 41.6%. However, in 2020, the Congress government lost its majority due to resignations by some MLAs led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, who later joined the BJP. Following this, the BJP formed the government, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan reinstated as the Chief Minister.
Rajasthan
The Congress party holds the majority in the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly, with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot leading the state government. In the previous assembly elections in December 2018, the Indian National Congress emerged as the single-largest party, winning 99 seats. However, they fell short by one seat to secure a majority. With a vote share of 39.8%, Congress formed the state government through an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party and the support of independent MLAs. The BJP secured 73 seats with a vote share of 39.3%.
Telangana
Telangana is set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, and the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. In the previous Assembly election held in 2018, BRS won 88 out of 119 seats and had a dominant vote share of 47.4%. Congress came a distant second with 19 seats and a vote share of 28.7%.
Chhattisgarh
In Chhattisgarh, Congress won 68 out of 90 seats, securing a vote share of 43.9%. The BJP won 15 seats and gathered a vote share of 33.6%.
Mizoram
In the 40-seat Assembly of Mizoram, the Mizo National Front won 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8%. Congress secured 5 seats, and BJP won a single seat. Zoramthanga is the current chief minister of the state.
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