The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in five states - Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
At the press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will go to polls on 7 November. He also revealed that Chhattisgarh will hold a crucial two-phase election on 7 and 17 November, underlining the immense importance of this democratic event. Rajasthan will go to the polls on 23 November and Telangana on 30 November.
He went on to say that the results of the elections would be announced on 3 December.
Before announcing the poll dates, he said that elections in these five states ''hold a unique significance as they serve as the final assembly elections before the grand stage of the National Elections in 2024.''
Kumar emphasized that citizens can use the cVigil app to report any electoral malpractice, assuring them that each complaint will be addressed within a maximum of 100 minutes.
Earlier on Friday, the ECI's police, general and expenditure observers met to streamline the strategy to ensure implementation of the model code of conduct and that money does not affect the level playing field.
The term of the legislative assemblies in these five states will end between December 2023 and January 2024.
The upcoming assembly elections will be a major test for all the major political parties, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition Congress, and the regional parties.
Madhya Pradesh is set to hold elections for 230 constituencies, Rajasthan for 200 constituencies, Telangana for 119 constituencies, Chhattisgarh for 90 constituencies, and Mizoram for 40 constituencies.
Madhya Pradesh is now under the governance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Mizoram is being governed by an alliance between the Mizo National Front and the BJP.The Congress is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is in power in Telangana.