Election date highlights: Maharashtra, Jharkhand assembly poll schedule announced; result on Nov 23
Election date highlights: The Election Commission announced the poll schedule for Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly elections.

Election date highlights: The Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election on Tuesday. The assembly polls in Maharashtra will take place in a single phase on November 20, while the polls in Jharkhand will take place in two phases - November 13 and 20. The results for both states will be announced on November 23....Read More
The Maharashtra assembly's term will end on November 26, while the term of Jharkhand assembly is due to end on January 5, 2025.
Maharashtra assembly election
The much anticipated elections in Maharashtra will feature a battle between two key alliances - the ruling Mahayuti (BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP) and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena UBT and NCP-SP).
On October 12, the death of NCP leader Baba Siddique has led to rising tensions between the factions, with the Opposition claiming that under the Eknath Shinde-led government, Maharashtra has had a collapse in law and order.
Leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Nana Patole, held a press conference on October 13, and released a "chargesheet of corruption" against the Mahayuti government, detailing alleged scams, mismanagement and lapses in law and order.
Jharkhand assembly election
In Jharkhand as well, alliances will be facing off, with the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance hoping for a win after the opposing alliance of the NDA had an almost clean sweep in the Lok Sabha elections.
The JMM-led alliance has announced that they will contest all 81 seats in the election and are confident of winning against the BJP's “double-engine government.”
The Jharkhand BJP's core group will hold a meeting today chaired by BJP national president JP Nadda and union home minister Amit Shah to discuss who will contest from the party in 81 seats, sources told news agency ANI.
Election date live updates: Congress warns against infighting in Maharashtra polls
After the recent poll debacle in Haryana, blamed partially on factional fighting, the Congress is bracing up to put its house in order and present a united face in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand where it seeks to win in alliance with its other INDIA bloc partners.
The Congress leadership does not want to take chances and has issued a stern warning to all its state leaders not to speak anything in public either against their party colleagues or any of the allies. (PTI)
Election date live updates: Voters to be identified as per cultural values, said CEC
CEC Rajiv Kumar said, “The conduct of election rule 35 specifically mentions about identification of electors and 34 mentions about facilities for women electors. Identification of voters will be done exactly as per those rules but with full respect and regard to the cultural aspects of the area.”
Election date live updates: Bypolls to 4 seats in Punjab on Nov 13
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced that by-elections to four assembly seats -- Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC), Gidderbaha, and Barnala --in Punjab will be held on November 13.
Counting of the votes will take place on November 23, said Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). (PTI)
Election date live updates: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to make poll debut
The Election Commission on Tuesday announced bypolls to Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala and Nanded seat in Maharashtra. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is likely to make her election debut from Wayanad.
Wayanad seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections held earlier this year. (ANI)
Election Date Announcement live: BSP to contest on its own in Maharashtra
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday said that her party will contest on its own in the upcoming state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand as well as byelections in nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh.
In a series of posts on X in Hindi, Mayawati welcomed the announcement of the poll schedule and said it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure that the elections are held in the shortest possible time and are free from the curse of money and muscle power. (PTI)
Election Date Announcement live: Congress claims ‘wave of support’ for MVA
The Congress on Tuesday claimed a "wave" supporting Maha Vikas Aghadi is sweeping through Maharashtra, asserting that the opposition bloc will go to the polls with an agenda to "save" the state from NDA. (PTI)
Election Date Announcement live: EC calls out ‘huge distortion’ in exit polls
The Election Commission on Tuesday said huge distortion was created due to exit polls, calling for self-introspection by pollsters. “A major distortion is being created due to Exit Polls and expectations set by it. This is a matter of deliberation and introspection for the Press, especially for electronic media. In the last few elections, 2-3 things are happening simultaneously if we look at the entire canvas together...First, an Exit Poll comes - we don't govern it...But there is a need for self-introspection,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said. Read more.
Election Date Announcement live: Maharashtra constituency-wise voting schedule
The assembly elections in Maharashtra are set for November 20, with vote counting on November 23, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Read the full schedule here.
Election Date Announcement live: Full schedule of Maharashtra polls
Election Date Announcement live: CEC responds to EVM tampering claims
While responding to a question on EVM manipulation, CEC Rajv Kumar said, “Didn't want to touch this subject. Because of exit polls and the expectations they set, big distortion created. It's a question of reflection for the press, especially electronic media. Since the last few elections, a whole canvas of issues - we can't regulate it but there needs to be an awareness of responsibilities of exit polls.”
Election Date Announcement live: Full schedule of Jharkhand polls
Election Date Announcement live: Maharashtra polls in single phase, Jharkhand in 2 phases
Maharashtra assembly elections will be conducted in a single phase on November 20, while the Jharkhand assembly elections will be conducted in two phases - November 13 and 20.
Election Date Announcement live: Jharkhand assembly polls in 2 phases
Jharkhand assembly elections to be held in two phases - November 13 and November 20. The result will be announced on November 23.
Election Date Announcement live: Maharashtra election to be held in single phase
Maharashtra assembly elections will be held in single phase on November 20, and the counting of the votes will take place on November 23.
Election Date Announcement live: Senior citizens above 85 to vote from home
CEC Rajiv Kumar said, “Every senior citizen above 85 can vote from home. They are entitled to their privacy as well during the vote at home. Videography will be done for proof.”
Election Date Announcement live: General polling overview of Maharashtra
Election Date Announcement live: CEC thanks people of Haryana, J&K for exceptional voter turnout
CEC Rajiv Kumar thanked the people of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir for their exceptional turnout in the recently held assembly election, and lauded the “gold standard” of elections set by Indian citizens.
Election Date Announcement live: Election Commission press conference begins
The Election Commission press conference to announce the poll schedule for Maharashtra and Jharkhand has commenced.
Election Date Announcement live: EC press conference to commence shortly
The press conference of the Election Commission, to announce the poll schedule of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election, is set to commence in a few minutes.
Election Date Announcement live: Congress appoints observers for Maha, Jharkhand polls
The Congress on Tuesday appointed division-wise AICC senior observers for the Maharashtra Assembly polls with Ashok Gehlot and G Parameshwara to look after the Mumbai and Konkan region and Sachin Pilot and Uttam Kumar Reddy to oversee the Marathwada region.
As the Congress gets battle-ready for the next round of assembly polls, the opposition party also appointed three AICC senior observers for Jharkhand assembly elections -- Tariq Anwar, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. (PTI)
Election Date Announcement live: ‘Congress, Pakistan share same ideology’
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, “Pakistan and Congress are alike, sharing similar thoughts that may harm India. People realize Congress's intentions are harmful and deceitful, leading to their decline. This has led to widespread disillusionment, causing people to turn away from Congress.”
Election Date Announcement live: ‘Mahayuti bestowed gifts on Adani,’ said Congress
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “The ECI is expected to announce the Maharashtra Assembly Elections today at 3:30 PM. A desperate Mahayuti knowing it is not coming back to power has spent its last few days bestowing gifts to Modani at the expense of the people of Mumbai and Maharashtra.”
Election Date Announcement live: Congress claims EVMs in Maharashtra can be manipulated
Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, “In Maharashtra, the opposition should put pressure to insist on voting by paper ballot and not EVMs. Otherwise, in Maharashtra, BJP govt and EC can do anything. If Israel can kill people by use of pagers and walkie-talkies, then where does EVM stand? The PM has very good relations with Israel. Israel is an expert in such things. EVM ka bada khel kahin bhi ho sakta hai aur uske liye BJP chunav se pehle yeh sab khel kar leti hai.”
Election Date Announcement live: ‘EVMs are foolproof,’ asserts CEC Rajiv Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, on Congress' claims of EVM tampering, said, "The public answers questions by participating in the voting. As far as the EVMs are concerned, they are 100 per cent foolproof. If they raise questions today again, we will tell them again."
Election Date Announcement live: Jharkhand CM Soren writes open letter to PM Modi
Hours before the Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly polls on Tuesday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding clearance of ₹1.36 lakh-crore in pending dues from coal companies.

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