The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced the dates for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. However, the much-anticipated announcement for the Maharashtra assembly elections has been deferred. This decision marks a departure from the previous election cycle, where Maharashtra and Haryana held their assembly polls simultaneously.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during a press conference, explained the rationale behind this decision. He cited security concerns in Jammu and Kashmir as a primary reason for the delay in announcing the Maharashtra polls. The security requirements for the J&K elections necessitate careful allocation of resources, making it challenging to manage multiple elections simultaneously.
Additionally, Kumar pointed out that Maharashtra is currently experiencing delays in updating its voter list due to the ongoing monsoon season. The state is also in the midst of significant cultural and religious observances, including Pitru Paksha, Diwali, and Ganesh Chaturthi, which would complicate the electoral process if polls were to be held immediately.
Kumar reassured that the ECI has the flexibility to schedule elections up to six months before the Legislative Assembly’s term ends, allowing them to choose a more suitable time for the Maharashtra elections once all necessary preparations are complete.
In response to the deferment, Aaditya Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, criticised both the Election Commission and the Union government. He accused the ECI of succumbing to political pressure and questioned the Union government’s claims of improved security in Jammu and Kashmir. Thackeray alleged that the delay in Maharashtra’s elections was an attempt to give the ruling party more time to prepare, asserting that the people of Maharashtra had already rejected the current administration once and would do so again.