The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced that Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram will hold elections on various dates from November 7 to November 30, with votes counting scheduled for December 3, 2023.
This election cycle sets the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and will involve nearly 16 crore eligible voters.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, during a press conference, emphasized the implementation of robust measures to ensure these polls remain free from inducements.
The election schedule includes voting for all 40 assembly seats in Mizoram on November 7, coinciding with the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh. The remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on November 17, along with all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Voting for all 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan will take place on November 23, while the 119-member Telangana Assembly will be the last to go to polls on November 30. The counting of votes for all five states will occur on December 3, according to CEC Kumar.
These elections mark the last round of assembly elections before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The political landscape is diverse, with the Congress in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the BJP governing Madhya Pradesh, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi in Telangana, and the Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram.
CEC Kumar noted that the five states will have 1.77 lakh polling stations, with 1.01 lakh equipped with webcasting facilities. Over 8,000 polling stations will be managed by women.
Kumar highlighted the significance of these elections for the country and stated that after this, the EC will begin preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. He noted that the EC has engaged with all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies, to prepare for the assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana.
The CEC emphasized that the EC has given special attention to inclusive electoral rolls and ensuring maximum voter turnout. The focus will be on achieving “roll-to-poll,” ensuring that all eligible voters cast their votes.
These five states will have a total of 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters, with 60.2 lakh first-time voters, according to Kumar. For the first time, a new Election Seizure Management System is being introduced to enhance oversight and ensure inducement-free elections.
Additionally, 940 check posts have been established to closely monitor interstate borders and prevent the inflow of illicit liquor, cash, freebies, and drugs. The EC has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards the use of money power and will rigorously monitor suspicious online cash transfers through digital wallets.
