Rajasthan Election 2023 Date: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the poll schedule for the assembly elections in Rajasthan. However, the ECI on Wednesday revised the dates to November 25, citing “large-scale weddings” on the earlier date as reason.
The counting of votes will be on December 3, along with four other states. The desert state is set to witness a high-stakes battle between the incumbent Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“Considering large-scale weddings, social engagement on that day, which may cause inconvenience to a large number of people, various logistic issues and may lead to reduced voter participation during the poll,” the Election Commission said in a statement.
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As per the poll schedule announced by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday, Assembly polls in Rajasthan were to be held in a single phase on November 23 and counting of votes on December 3.
Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023 schedule:
Date of issue of gazette notification: October 30
Last date for filing nomination: November 6
Date of scrutiny: November 7
Last date of withdrawal of nomination: November 9
Date of poll: November 25
Date of counting: December 3
Date before which election shall be completed: December 5
The 200-strong Rajasthan Legislative Assembly is set to witness a high-decibel contest between the Congress and BJP. The Rajasthan elections will be one of the most keenly watched considering the many twists and turns that the outgoing session of the Assembly has seen so far.
From Sachin Pilot’s revolt to paper leaks and religious unrest, the state has hit headlines on several occasions in the past few years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has made several visits to the poll-bound state in recent months, has projected the BJP as a strong alternative to the incumbent government under Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
In the Assembly elections held in 2018, the Congress displaced the BJP from power in keeping with the tradition of the state never voting an incumbent government back to power in the past 25 years. The ruling Congress has 108 MLAs in the 15th Rajasthan Assembly while the Opposition BJP has 70. The Gehlot government also enjoys the support of 13 Independent MLAs and an RJD legislator. The term of the 15th Rajasthan Assembly expires on January 14, 2024.
