Assembly Elections 2023: EC Announces Schedule for Five States

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially unveiled the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in five Indian states: Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. The announcement by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)Rajiv Kumar during a press conference today marks a significant development in the country's electoral landscape.

The ECI's announcement, which comes on October 9, 2023, sets the stage for the general election to legislative assemblies in these states and is seen as a crucial precursor to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, often dubbed the "semi-finals."

Election Dates and Phases

The electoral process in these five states will be carried out in multiple phases and on different dates, as outlined by the Election Commission. Here are the key dates for each state:

• Mizoram: The legislative elections in Mizoram are scheduled for November 7, 2023.

• Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh will witness polling in two phases, with the first phase on November 7, 2023, and the second phase on November 17, 2023.

• Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh will go to the polls on November 17, 2023.

• Rajasthan: Rajasthan's legislative elections will take place on November 23, 2023.

• Telangana: Telangana will have its elections on November 30, 2023.

The voting process will be followed by counting votes in all five states on December 3, 2023, as specified by the Election Commission.

The Election Commission also said polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held at the "right time" keeping in mind the security situation there. CEC Rajiv Kumar said this while speaking at the press conference to announce the schedule for assembly elections in five states. The polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held when the commission deems it the "right time" keeping in mind the security situation and other polls being held in the union territory, he said.

Voter Eligibility and Measures Against Inducement

Approximately 16 crore eligible voters across these five states are expected to exercise their democratic rights in the upcoming assembly elections, as Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar highlighted during the press conference.

Furthermore, CEC Rajiv Kumar emphasised that strong measures are being put in place to ensure that these elections remain inducement-free, promoting fairness and transparency in the electoral process.

ECI's Strategic Planning

To facilitate the smooth conduct of the polls and uphold the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission of India held a meeting of observers. This meeting brought together EC's police, general, and expenditure observers who collectively strategised to prevent the influence of money and maintain a level playing field for all candidates.

With the election schedule now officially announced, political parties and candidates will gear up for campaigning, and the electoral landscape in these five states is expected to witness heightened political activity in the coming weeks.