Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: Election Commission is likely to announce the dates of assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand in the coming week, with polling likely to be scheduled in the second or third week of Nov.
EC – keeping in mind the slew of festivals ahead, starting with Diwali, a five-day affair from Oct 29 to Nov 3; Chhath, observed widely in Jharkhand and also the reason for temporary migration of Bihari electors living and working in Maharashtra, to their hometown; and Dev Deepawali – may choose to start polling in the states towards the end of second week of Nov.This will give migrant voters enough time to return to the place where they are registered as electors, after the festivities.
Bypolls to over 45 assembly seats across different states, besides the Lok Sabha seats of Wayanad and Basirhat, may also be tied with the upcoming round of assembly polls. While Wayanad fell vacant due to the resignation of elected MP Rahul Gandhi after he chose to keep his other seat of Amethi, Basirhat bypoll is necessitated due to death of sitting Trinamool MP Sheikh Nurul Islam.
While the term of the Maharashtra House ends on Nov 26, the Jharkhand assembly is due to expire on Jan 5, 2025.
In 2019, there were five phases of polling in Jharkhand but only one in Maharashtra. With EC having successfully held J&K polls in three phases as opposed to 6-7 earlier, there is likelihood of polling in Jharkhand winding up faster.
