Maharashtra Assembly Election Update: Poll Code Expected by September 20, Elections Likely in Late October
Maharashtra Assembly Election Update: Poll Code Expected by September 20, Elections Likely in Late October
Poll Code Likely from September 20, Maharashtra Elections Expected in Late October
Maharashtra: As Maharashtra gears up for its upcoming assembly elections, senior bureaucrats involved in the electoral process anticipate the enforcement of the poll code from September 20. Sources suggest that polling is likely to be scheduled for the third or fourth week of October, expected to be conducted in a single phase.
Reflecting on past timelines, a senior bureaucrat noted that during the 2019 elections, the notification was issued on September 27, polling took place on October 21, and results were declared on October 24. “We are now geared up for the assembly elections, and as per the Election Commission’s directives, the final electoral roll must be published by August 20, 2024,” the official affirmed.
Following the Lok Sabha elections, political parties are preparing strategies for the assembly polls. Nana Patole, President of MPCC, expressed confidence that the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) alliance would replicate its Lok Sabha success and secure a clear majority in the upcoming assembly elections.
Sources revealed that the Mahayuti alliance led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde plans to introduce populist measures to attract voters. Bureaucrats have been tasked with devising innovative schemes modeled after successful initiatives in states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
In June, the Election Commission instructed the chief electoral officers of Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir to undertake a special summary revision of photo electoral rolls, with June 1, 2024, as the qualifying date. The EC emphasized the need to rationalize polling stations, rectify discrepancies in electoral rolls, improve image quality, and ensure high-quality photographs by June 24, 2024. The integrated draft electoral roll is set for publication by June 25, with special campaigns planned every Saturday and Sunday. The final electoral roll will be released on August 20.
Furthermore, the EC directed the CEO to ensure that families remain together in the same section and location at polling stations, with provisions for ground-floor polling stations, ensuring that electors do not need to travel more than two kilometers.
As Maharashtra prepares for another crucial electoral battle, political parties strategize, and administrative bodies ensure readiness for a smooth conduct of elections in the state.
