New Delhi: The Election Commission has announced the schedule of assembly elections in five states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. The elections will be held in November and December 2023, and the results will be declared on December 3. The elections are crucial for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress, as they will test their popularity and performance in these states before the 2024 general elections.
The Election Commission said that a total of 16.14 crore voters will cast their votes in these elections, out of which 8.2 crore are male voters and 7.8 crore are female voters. This time, 60.2 lakh new voters will exercise their franchise for the first time. The Election Commission also said that it will ensure free and fair elections with strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
The following table shows the important dates for each state:
| State | Gazette notification release date | Last date to enroll | Last date for withdrawal of candidature | Voting date | Counting date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madhya Pradesh | October 21 | October 30 | November 2 | November 17 | December 3 |
| Chhattisgarh | October 13 (first phase), October 26 (second phase) | October 23 (first phase), November 2 (second phase) | October 26 (first phase), November 5 (second phase) | November 7 (first phase), November 17 (second phase) | December 3 |
| Rajasthan | October 30 | November 6 | November 9 | November 23 | December 3 |
| Telangana | November 3 | November 10 | November 15 | November 30 | December 3 |
| Mizoram | October 13 | October 20 | October 23 | November 7 | December 3 |
The tenure of the current assemblies in these states will end in December or January. The Mizoram assembly has 40 members, the Chhattisgarh assembly has 90 members, and the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana assemblies have 230, 200 and 119 members respectively.
The elections in these five states will set the stage for the next general elections in 2024, where both the BJP and the Congress will try to win a majority in the Lok Sabha. The results of these elections will also have implications for the regional parties and alliances that may play a crucial role in forming or supporting the next government at the center.
