Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election 2024 Dates EC Announcement Highlights: The Election Commission announced the polling dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand on Tuesday. The Maharashtra Assembly polls will be held on Nov 20 while Jharkhand will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and November 20. The counting of votes for both states will take place on November 23. The announcement was made at a press conference that was held by the EC on Tuesday.
The Chief Election Commissioner also spoke about the “distortion” caused by Exit Polls. He said that Exit Polls warrants careful consideration and reflection by the media, particularly electronic outlets. He added that it’s important for pollsters to evaluate their practices, including sample sizes, survey locations, and the methods used to derive results. They must also recognize their responsibility if their findings do not align with actual outcomes. The CEC said that there are governing bodies in place, and it’s clear that the time has come for these organizations to implement self-regulation. He further added that the disparity between what is expected and what is achieved often leads to frustration, highlighting the need for thoughtful discussion on this matter.
JMM MP Mahua Maji criticized the BJP‘s past governance, highlighting that Jharkhand had gained notoriety for women trafficking during their rule. She emphasized that Hemant Soren’s administration has made significant strides in addressing this issue and has implemented initiatives like the Mahila Sanman Yojana to support women in the state.
In response to the announcement regarding the Jharkhand assembly election dates, JMM MP Mahua Maji suggested that the BJP was feeling pressured by the accomplishments of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and aimed to rush the elections. She noted that while elections in Maharashtra are imminent, Jharkhand still has a month before its polls, which coincides with major festivals like Diwali and Chhath. She expressed concerns that any restrictions during this festive month could cause difficulties, adding that the BJP tends to operate according to its own agenda.
Congress leader Rashid Ali has stated that the opposition in Maharashtra should be putting pressure to insist on voting by paper ballot and not EVMs. He said that the BJP and the Election Commission can do anything.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar headed a delegation from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sep 24, to assess the readiness for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand, focusing on measures to counter the influence of money in the electoral process. This review took place in Ranchi and involved directives to both central and state enforcement agencies.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla addressed Congress leader Rashid Alvi’s allegations of potential election manipulation by the BJP, asserting that Congress is already preparing for its own defeat.
Poonawalla pointed out that the Congress party has started crafting excuses for its anticipated performance in the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, even before the official announcement of election dates.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a toll exemption for light motor vehicles at five entry points into Mumbai, just a day before the Election Commission is expected to reveal the dates for the assembly elections. While this decision was met with general approval, the opposition has criticized it as a mere “jumla,” suggesting it is a tactic to divert attention from ongoing concerns about law and order issues faced by the Mahayuti government. Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole remarked that this initiative is simply an election gimmick and urged the public not to take it seriously.
As the Jharkhand assembly elections approach, Congress leader Manju Kumari officially joined the BJP at the party office in Ranchi on Tuesday. She was accompanied by her father, former MLA Sukar Ravidas, during the event, which was attended by Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi and state assembly election co-incharge Himanta Biswa Sarma. Babulal Marandi also addressed the upcoming assembly elections, announcing that he would be traveling to Delhi for a meeting focused on the electoral agenda for the state.
The BJP Central Election Committee is set to meet today evening at the party’s national headquarters to discuss candidate nominations for the Jharkhand assembly elections. Attendees will include Prime Minister Modi, BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and key figures in the state’s election strategy, such as Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Himanta Biswa Sarma. Prior to this meeting, BJP’s top leadership had convened a core group session focused on Jharkhand on October 7, led by JP Nadda at his residence.
As opposition parties have once again raised concerns about potential EVM manipulation ahead of the Election Commission’s announcement on polling dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told ANI that public participation in voting addresses these concerns. He asserted that electronic voting machines are completely secure and reliable. Kumar indicated that if questions regarding EVMs persist, they will continue to reiterate their reliability. Previously, Congress leader Rashid Alvi had pointed to incidents in Israel, where hackers compromised the communications of the militant group Hezbollah, to support his claims about the vulnerability of EVMs.
The Jharkhand Assembly has 81 seats, with the INDIA bloc holding 44 seats and the BJP occupying 30, leaving seven seats vacant. The current term of the Jharkhand Assembly is set to conclude on January 5, 2025. Additionally, with approximately 50 by-polls anticipated, the EC may also announce dates for these elections.
In Jharkhand, the governing alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress is facing off against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the BJP, Janata Dal (United), and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU). In the 2019 elections, Hemant Soren’s JMM secured 30 seats, while Congress won 16, enabling Soren to take office as chief minister.
The Maharashtra Assembly’s term is set to conclude on November 26. The upcoming election in Maharashtra will see a competitive battle between two major alliances. The Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, consisting of the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, will face off against the ruling Mahayuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction)
The Jharkhand State Assembly’s term will end on January 5, 2025, with elections planned for its 81 constituencies, which include 44 General, 9 Scheduled Castes, and 28 Scheduled Tribes seats. The elections for the 81-member legislative assembly are anticipated to take place by December 2024. On September 24, a delegation from the ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, conducted a comprehensive assessment of the state’s election preparedness in Ranchi. During this visit, they instructed both central and state enforcement agencies to take measures against the influence of money in the electoral process.
The 3 vacant Lok Sabha seats include Wayanad in Kerala, Nanded in Maharashtra, and Basirhat in West Bengal. The Wayanad seat became vacant when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi chose to keep his seat in Rae Bareli after winning in both constituencies during the Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Congress MP Vasant Chavan, who served Nanded, and TMC MP Haji Sheikh Nurul Islam, who represented Basirhat, have both recently passed away, contributing to these vacancies.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha today alleged that the EC is under pressure of BJP and is not acting independently. JMM leader Manoj Pandey on Tuesday alleged that the BJP knew about the election information yesterday, that is before EC announces the date today. He said that it is a serious matter to keep the commission as a “puppet”.
Congress leader Atul Londhe Patil today said that Maha Vikas Aghadi’s preparations are also complete. He said that the seat sharinf formula is nearly done and that he is confident that the party will form the government this time. ” The way the people of Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh have given the mandate, the people of Maharashtra are going to give the same kind of mandate, even more than that,” Patil said.
With the Election Commission set to announce the dates for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections today, BJP leader Pratul Shah Deo today expressed confidence in the party’s preparedness. He noted that elections were expected due to the impending end of the assembly’s term on January 5. Shah Deo accused the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha of panicking, stating that their claims of a “murder of democracy” reflect their fear of losing power. He asserted that the party’s misrule, corruption, and misgovernance are nearing an end, suggesting that the BJP is gaining significant support. Shah Deo predicted a decisive defeat for the JMM and declared that Hemant Soren’s leadership would mark the decline of the Soren dynasty.
Welcome to our live coverage of the Assembly Date announcement. The Election Commission is going to hold a press conference today where they will announce the poll dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly Elections.