Assembly Election dates for 5 States Announced: The Political Arena heats up
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially released the assembly election schedule for five states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. This announcement encompasses essential details of the electoral process, including nomination filing, polling dates, and result declaration for all five states. To ensure fair elections, the Election Commission conducted a meeting of observers to strategize the smooth conduct of the polls, involving police, general, and expenditure observers.
Source: ECI
Chhattisgarh Election in Two Phases
The Chhattisgarh election will be held in two phases, scheduled for November 7 and November 17, 2023. This phased approach aims to facilitate efficient polling in the state. Interestingly, the polling in Madhya Pradesh coincides with the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh on 17th November 2023.
Single-Phase Elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram
Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will witness single-phase elections. Legislative elections in Madhya Pradesh are set for November 17, whereas Mizoram’s legislative elections will be held on November 7, 2023.
Rajasthan and Telangana’s Single-Phase Elections
Both Rajasthan and Telangana are gearing up for single-phase elections, scheduled for November 23 and November 30, respectively. These states will go to the polls to choose their representatives in a single electoral phase.
Political Reactions on Assembly Election Dates
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed support for a caste census in the country ahead of the elections. He believes that this step is essential for the betterment of the nation’s underprivileged population.
Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has declared that the party is ready to compete vigorously in the upcoming elections. He expressed confidence in Congress’s ability to secure victory in all five states.
Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar welcomed the Election Commission’s decision and stated that the BJP is fully prepared to participate in the Rajasthan elections and all other state polls.
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan described elections as festivals of democracy, encouraging voters to actively participate in the electoral process while urging political parties to maintain peaceful election campaigns.
BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda expressed his welcome for the assembly elections, expressing confidence that the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, would secure an overwhelming majority in all states and work to fulfill the people’s aspirations for the next five years.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the announcement of elections and expressed the Congress party’s commitment to public welfare, social justice, and progressive development in the five states.
Telangana’s ruling party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), is set to initiate its campaign with party president Chandrasekhar Rao leading the way, starting from October 15, 2023, in the state.
Reporting of Malpractice through cVigil app
Ensuring free, fair, and inducement-free elections is a collective responsibility, and citizen participation plays a crucial role. To empower citizens in this endeavor, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced the cVigil app, allowing citizens to report any electoral malpractices. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasized that for every complaint submitted through the cVigil app, a response will be provided within 100 minutes.
Increased Women Voters
In the upcoming elections in Chhattisgarh, there has been an increase in women voters from 995 in 2018 to 1,012 in 2023. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh has seen a rise from 917 women voters in 2018 to 945 in 2023. Mizoram’s women voters have increased from 1,051 in 2018 to 1,063 in 2023, and Rajasthan has experienced growth from 914 women voters in 2018 to 920 in 2023. Telangana has also witnessed an increase in women voters, from 992 in 2018 to 998 in 2023.
Improving Gender Ratio Across States
The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, highlighted that the gender ratio is consistently improving across all five states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram. This progress reflects a positive trend toward gender inclusivity in electoral participation.
60 Lakh First-Time Voters
In the upcoming elections, India will see the participation of 60 lakh first-time voters. This influx of new voters underscores the importance of democratic engagement among the country’s youth and highlights the need for inclusive and transparent electoral processes.
