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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.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar

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.

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.

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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.

Follow all the updates here:
Oct 15, 2024, 20:09:50 IST

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)

Oct 15, 2024, 19:39:34 IST

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.”

Oct 15, 2024, 19:07:30 IST

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)

Oct 15, 2024, 18:40:56 IST

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)

Oct 15, 2024, 18:09:50 IST

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)

Oct 15, 2024, 17:26:47 IST

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)

Oct 15, 2024, 16:44:40 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 16:34:25 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 16:15:42 IST

Election Date Announcement live: Full schedule of Maharashtra polls

Oct 15, 2024, 16:09:12 IST

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.”

Oct 15, 2024, 16:03:37 IST

Election Date Announcement live: Full schedule of Jharkhand polls

Oct 15, 2024, 16:00:26 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 15:57:14 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 15:53:10 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 15:48:31 IST

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.”

Oct 15, 2024, 15:42:47 IST

Election Date Announcement live: General polling overview of Maharashtra

Oct 15, 2024, 15:38:30 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 15:34:42 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 15:24:48 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 15:19:31 IST

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)

Oct 15, 2024, 15:03:05 IST

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.”

Oct 15, 2024, 14:46:24 IST

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.”

Oct 15, 2024, 14:28:37 IST

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.”

Oct 15, 2024, 14:18:05 IST

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."

Oct 15, 2024, 13:48:57 IST

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.

Oct 15, 2024, 13:05:09 IST

Election date announcement live updates: ‘BJP is rattled, wants to conduct elections sooner,’ says JMM MP Mahua Maji

Election date announcement live updates: Addressing reporters on the announcement that Jharkhand assembly election dates would be revealed today, JMM MP Mahua Maji said that the BJP must have been rattled by the work done by Hemant Soren and wanted to rus the elections.

She said,"The time for Maharashtra has come but there is still a month to go for our elections. This is a month of big festivals of Diwali and Chhath. If restrictions are put in this month, it will be problematic. But BJP runs the country in its own way."

Criticising the BJP, she added that during their tenure, "Jharkhand was known for trafficking of women to other states. Hemant Soren stopped this, and launched Mahila Sanman Yojana in the state."

Oct 15, 2024, 12:58:46 IST

Election date announcement live updates: Chief Election Commissioner responds to EVM claims

Election date announcement live updates: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar responded to Congress leader Rashid Alvi's claims about EVM manipulation stating that they are completely foolproof.

Kumar said that EVMS are 100 per cent foolproof and the public will answer by voting.

Rashid Alvi had in his statement compared EVMs to pagers that had blown up in Lebanon saying that if Israel could hack those, the Indian government could mess with the EVMs as well.

Oct 15, 2024, 12:49:18 IST

Election date announcement live updates: ‘Fight for Maharashtra’s dignity' says Vijay Wadettiwar

Election date announcement live updates: Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly Vijay Wadettiwar took a jibe at the Mahayuti alliance and said that the upcoming elections would be a fight for Maharashtra's dignity which had been sacrificed to Gujarat.

In his statement to the press, the Congress leader said, “Our fight is to save the respect and dignity of Maharashtra. This govt has put the respect and dignity of Maharashtra at the feet of Gujarat. Due to this, the people of Maharashtra were waiting for elections, to take revenge.”

Oct 15, 2024, 12:27:14 IST

Election date announcement live updates: MVA seat sharing not decided yet, says Nana Patole

Election date announcement live updates: Congress's state president Nana Patole said on Tuesday that the Mahas Vikas Aghadi had not decided their seat sharing strategy yet but were ready for the elections, whose dates would be announced today at 3:30 pm.

He also stated that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would come to Maharashtra to declare the poll guarantees of the party as well.

Oct 15, 2024, 12:15:26 IST

Election date announcement live updates: Last minute swearing-in of seven MLCs in Maharashtra ahead of poll date announcement

Election date announcement live updates: Seven members of legislative council (MLCs) from the Mahayuti alliance will be sworn in last minute today under the Governor's quota ahead of the announcement of assembly election dates by the Election Commission.

The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for noon at Vidhan Bhavan, mere hours before the Election Commission of India's press conference announcement at 3.30 pm.

The move comes at a time when Opposition parties have been accusing the alliance of using underhanded techniques to win the elections.

Oct 15, 2024, 12:05:40 IST

Election date announcement live updates: BJP spokesperson responds to EVM claim, says Congress has already accepted defeat

Election date announcement live updates: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla responded to Congress leader Rashid Alvi's claims that the BJP would manipulate elections, stating that the Congress was already prepping for its defeat.

Poonawalla said that even before election dates were announced, the Congress had begun making excuses for its performance in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

In his statement he said, “This means writing is on the wall. They have accepted defeat even before the polls have started in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. They have given up even before the elections have been started. It also is an admission that 'EVM is a bahana, pariwar ko ek aur haar se hai bachana'.” (EVM is an excuse, they want to save the family from failure.)

Oct 15, 2024, 11:55:04 IST

Election date announcement live updates: Congress leader joins BJP ahead of Jharkhand poll date announcement

Election date announcement live updates: Congress leader Manju Kumari joined the BJP in Ranchi today, hours before the Election Commission declared that it would announce the dates of assembly elections in the state.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have alleged that the BJP had knowledge of the election dates being announced prior to the Election Commission's official announcement.

Non-BJP parties in Maharashtra and Jharkhand have both questioned the role of the Election Commission as a free and fair body as the announcement of poll dates is imminent.

Oct 15, 2024, 11:50:04 IST

Election date announcement live updates: CM Soren calls ED raid on minister, ‘BJP poll prep’

Election date announcement live updates: A day before the Election Commission announced that poll dates would be declared for the Jharkhand assembly, a state cabinet minister and those close to him were raided.

Chief minister Hemant Soren stated that the Enforcement Directorate raid on the water and sanitation minister, his brother and his assistant, were all part of BJP's “political vendetta” ahead of elections.

Sanitation minister Thakur, who is being raided, told The Times of India that these were “pressure tactics” employed ahead of polls, as Thakur did not join the BJP

Oct 15, 2024, 11:18:13 IST

Election date announcement live updates: Congress leader says, ‘EVM’s can be manipulated anywhere…'

Election date announcement live updates: Congress leader Rashid Alvi reacted to the upcoming announcement of poll dates in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, calling into question the workings of the ECI and EVMs.

In his statement, he said, "EVM ka bada khel kahin bhi ho sakta hai aur uske liye BJP chunav se pehle yeh sab khel kar leti hai." (Manipulation of the EVM can happen anywhere and the BJP engages in many such activities before elections.)

The Congress leader's statement follows allegations by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha that the BJP was aware of the ECI announcing poll dates today ahead of time.

Oct 15, 2024, 11:13:28 IST

Election date announcement live updates: 'People of Maharashtra are angry, we will form government," says NCP-SP leader

Election date announcement live updates: NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh reacted to the ECI's announcement that poll dates for the state will be announced today, expressing confidence in the MVA forming government.

The leader spoke about the Maha Vikas Aghadi's prospects and told news agency ANI, “We are well coordinated. The people of Maharashtra are angry right now. Farmers are angry because of the inflation. Big industries that could have come to Maharashtra went to other states. It caused a lot of loss to the youth here. We are going to form the government in Maharashtra.”

The Maharashtra assembly's current term will end on November 26.

Oct 15, 2024, 11:01:18 IST

Election date announcement live updates: JMM claims BJP was aware of election dates before

In a post on X, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha put up a news article where chief minister Hemant Soren had claimed that the elections in Jharkhand would take place as per the convenience of the opposition.

The post added, “This was 1 month before the Jharkhand elections. Yesterday the BJP election in-charge said that the ECI will announce the elections today and the same thing happened. The boss has set everything up. What a scene!”

The post also tagged the Election Commission of India, asking “will you say something?”

Oct 15, 2024, 10:54:32 IST

Election date announcement live updates: CM Shinde declares toll-exemption ahead of polls, opposition calls it ‘jumla’

Election date announcement live updates: Chief minister Eknath Shinde announced a toll-exemption for light-motor vehicles at 5 entry points into Mumbai, a day before the ECI is set to announce assembly election dates.

While the move was generally celebrated, the opposition has termed it as a “jumla” to distract from the criticisms surrounding law and order the Mahayuti government has faced.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said, "This is an election 'jumla'. Do not take it seriously."

Prithviraj Chauhan also called it a desperate move by an alliance that is likely to lose elections.

Oct 15, 2024, 10:21:47 IST

Election date announcement live updates: JMM-led alliance to contest all 81 seats

Election date announcement live updates: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance will contest all 81 seats in the upcoming election, chief minister Hemant Soren declared on Monday, ahead of poll dates being announced today.

Jharkhand's Vidhan Sabha is coming to an end on January 5, 2025.

“I participated in the JMM central committee meeting today along with all other workers and executive committee members. We reviewed our election preparedness and we are confident of winning the assembly elections. The JMM-led alliance will contest all the 81 seats,” said Soren.

The BJP is yet to announce its strategy in the upcoming elections.

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