Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election 2024 Dates, Schedule LIVE: Single-phase election in Maharashtra on Nov 20, Jharkhand to vote on Nov 13, 20; results on Nov 23

The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) met here on Tuesday evening to finalise the party's candidates for the Jharkhand Assembly polls next month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda and national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh were among the CEC members who deliberated on the probable list of nominees at the party headquarters here.

Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the BJP's in-charge for Jharkhand Annapurna Devi and Sanjay Seth were also present at the meeting, besides the party's Jharkhand unit chief Babulal Marandi and former Union minister Arjun Munda.

Lok Sabha (Wayanad): Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Legislative Assembly:

"I am sure that all of us will come to an agreement and I assure you that NDA will be united in contesting the Jharkhand Assembly elections," says LJP (Ramvilas) MP Arun Bharti on ECI announcing schedule for Jharkhand Assembly bypolls.

"The Model Code of Conduct has been imposed and polling dates have also been announced. I am sure that they (Mahayuti) will suffer a setback," says Congress MP Varsha Eknath Gaikwad.

Voting for bypolls on seven assembly seats in Rajasthan will be held on November 13, the results of which will be declared on November 23, according to the Election Commission of India.

At a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced the schedule for bypolls in 48 assembly constituencies spread and two parliamentary constituencies spread across 15 states. In Rajasthan, bypolls will be held in Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Chaurasi, Salumbar and Ramgarh assembly seats.

"Today, the dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections have been declared. We were waiting for the schedule for a long time. However, it has been declared now, so I will appeal to everybody to go out and take part in this celebration of democracy," NCP leader Seema Malik on EC announcing schedule for Maharashtra Assembly polls.

"You will see a definite change in Maharashtra. The Maha Vikas Aghadi will win with full majority. Those who have looted Maharashtra (Eknath Shinde and BJP) will be shown the doors," says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state awaits a "strong mandate" to the Mahayuti alliance in the next month's assembly elections for its development.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the schedule for the Maharashtra assembly elections. While voting will take place on November 20, the results will be announced on November 23.

"Since the Election Commission through its press conference announced the polling schedule for Jharkhand, the Model Code of Conduct has been imposed in the state. The elections will happen in two phases. There are 43 Assembly constituencies in first phase and 38 constituencies in second phase," says Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar at a press conference in Ranchi. PTI

“We were expecting these elections to be held along with Haryana, but it’s better late than never. Congress workers are ready for it. People of Rajasthan are frustrated and worried by the present government in the state. BJP formed a ‘sarkaar’, but it became a circus. I am sure that BJP will win zero seats in the upcoming by-elections,” says Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra after the announcement of the date of by-elections in seven Assembly seats in the state.

With half a dozen key players post splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP, a fragmented polity, Maratha quota stir and a spirited opposition, Maharashtra will see a riveting contest in the assembly polls amid dramatic changes since the last elections. Elections to the 288-member assembly, the second largest after Uttar Pradesh (403), will be held on November 20 in a single phase and counting of votes will be on November 23, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. The Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, necessitated due to the death of Congress MP Vasant Chavan, will also be held on November 20. PTI

Here are the key takeaways from CEC Rajiv Kumar's remarks on exit polls:

On Exit Polls, CEC Rajiv Kumar says, "A major distortion is being created due to Exit Polls and the expectations set by it. This is a matter of deliberation and introspection for the Press, especially for electronic media. In the last few elections,two-three things are happening, simultaneously. If we look at the entire canvas together. First, an Exit Poll comes - we don't govern it...But there is a need for self-introspection - what was the sample size, where was the survey done, how did the result come and what is my responsibility if I did not match to that result, are there disclosures - all of these need to be seen. There are bodies which govern this...I am sure the time has come that Associations/Bodies which govern, will do some self-regulation...Counting happens roughly on the third day after the elections end. Expectations rise from 6 pm...but there is no scientific base to this in public disclosure. When counting begins, results start pouring at 8.05-8.10 am. This is nonsense. The first counting (of EVMs) begins at 8.30 am...Are the initial trends to justify the Exit Poll?...We start putting the results at 9.30 am on the website...So, when the actual results start coming in, there is a mismatch. That mismatch can lead to serious issues sometimes. The gap between expectations and achievements is nothing but frustration. So, this issue is such that needs some deliberation..."

Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi says, " The (state) govt has been given enough time to deal with their business and to make election announcements as well and dates have been announced at the last moment. MVA is fully prepared and BJP knows that they won't get anything in Maharashtra and MVA is going to form govt with a huge majority..."

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said political parties felt there was a huge distortion due to exit polls. "Need for self-introspection by pollsters,"said Kumar.

Asked about Congress' allegations after facing rout in the Haryana polls, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the commission will respond to all 20 complaints on EVMs (electronic voting machines) individually, fact-by-fact.

Jharkhand will have two-phase assembly polls on November 13 and 20, while the results will be declared on November 23, said CEC Rajiv Kumar.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that bye-elections to 47 assembly seats and Wayanad Lok Sabha seat will be held on November 13.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that there are 9.63 crore eligible voters in Maharashtra and 2.6 crore in Jharkhand.

"Total districts in Maharashtra is 36 with 288 constituencies, of which 234 are General, ST constituencies 25 and SC constituencies 29.The termm of the Assembly of Maharashtra is ending on November 26, 2024. There are 9.63 crore voters in Maharashtra - 4.97 crore males and 4.66 crore female voters. There are 1.85 crore young voters, of which 20.93 lakh are first-time voters... There are total 1,00,186 polling stations at 52,789 locations," says CEC Rajiv Kumar.

"In Jharkhand, total number of districts is 24; total Assemblies are 81, of which General are 44, 28 STs and 9 SCs... The term of Jharkhand Assembly will end of Januray 5, 2025. There are 2.6 crore voters in Jharkhand, of which 1.29 crore are females and 1.31 crore are male voters," he adds.

The bypolls in Kerala's Wayanad will take place on November 13 and the results will be announced on the November 23, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Tuesday.

CEC Rajiv Kumar questions early trends shown on TV channels within 15-30 minutes of start of vote counting.

Bypolls to Kedarnath assembly seat in Uttarakhand, Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra to be held on November 20: CEC Rajiv Kumar

"We are setting a new gold standard by making clear our intentions at the time of announcement of poll schedule. Taking you down the memory, during the Lok Sabha poll announcement, we had promised to tackle the issue of 4M and not allow muscle, money, misinformation, and MCC violations... At the time of J&K poll announcement, I would like to remind about the increasing threats which made people think whether the EC will hold the elections there or not. On August 16, however, we however made the bold announcement that the world will watch the nefarious intentions fail as you will participate in the celebration of democracy...." says CEC Rajiv Kumar.

The Election Commission of India Tuesday announced the Maharashtra assembly polls will take place on November 20, while Jharkhand polls will be held in two phases - November 13 and 20. Both the results will be announced on November 23. While the BJP hopes to make a return to power in Maharashtra, where it has an alliance with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, the saffron party will look to make a dent in Jharkhand, too.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said 1,86,00 polling stations will be set up in Maharashtra, while over 29,000 polling stations will be set up in Jharkhand. Around 9.6 crore people are eligible to cast their vote in Maharashtra, while 2.6 crore will vote in Jharkhand.

Election Commission of India holds a press conference in Delhi. Dates for Assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra to be announced shortly.

"On behalf of the Election Commision of India, we thank all the voters of Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana for strongly participating in polls. People of Jammu and Kashmir have made festival of democracy historic. As the world's biggest democracy, India is setting gold standards in every election," says Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar said the people of J&K made it a historic election.

Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, addresses press conference to announce the schedule for Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly polls.

The Congress on Tuesday appointed division-wise AICC senior observers for the Maharashtra Assembly polls with Ashok Gehlot and G Parameshwara to look after the Mumbai and Konkan region and Sachin Pilot and Uttam Kumar Reddy to oversee the Marathwada region.

As the Congress gets battle-ready for the next round of assembly polls, the opposition party also appointed three AICC senior observers for Jharkhand assembly elections -- Tariq Anwar, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed Mukul Wasnik and Avinash Pande as Maharashtra state election senior coordinators.

Kharge has appointed AICC Senior Observers (division-wise) and state election senior coordinators for Maharashtra for the ensuing assembly elections in the state, with immediate effect, a party statement said.

While Gehlot and Parameshwara have been appointed senior observers for Mumbai and Konkan, Bhupesh Baghel, Charanjit Singh Channi and Umang Singhar will look after the Vidarbha region (Amravati and Nagpur).

Sachin Pilot and Uttam Kumar Reddy will oversee the Marathwada region and TS Singhdeo and M B Patil will take care of western Maharashtra.

Syed Naseer Hussain and D Anasuya Seethakka have been appointed senior observers for North Maharashtra, the party said. PTI

The Congress has expelled MLA Hiraman Khoskar from the party for six years for indulging in "anti-party activities" after he joined the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Khoskar, who represents the Igatpuri assembly constituency in Nashik district, joined the ruling NCP on Monday.

In a letter dated October 14, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said the legislator was involved in "anti-party activities during the Lok Sabha polls and even after that".

As per the instructions of Congress' Maharashtra in-charge, Ramesh Chennithala, Khoskar was being expelled from the party for six years, the letter said.

The Congress is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), while the ruling alliance comprises Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ajit Pawar's NCP.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are due. The poll schedule is slated to be announced later in the day. PTI

Responding to Congress leader Rashid Alvi's demand that voting should be conducted using ballot papers, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske on Tuesday alleged that Pakistan and Congress are alike, sharing similar thoughts that may harm India.

"Pakistan and Congress are alike, sharing similar thoughts that may harm India. People realize Congress's intentions are harmful and deceitful, leading to their decline. This has led to widespread disillusionment, causing people to turn away from Congress," Mhaske told ANI.

Ahead of the announcement of dates for the Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly elections, Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Tuesday demanded that voting should be conducted using ballot papers. He said if electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be used, the BJP government and the Election Commission "can do anything. ANI

Senior Observers by Division:

State Election Senior Coordinators:

The following leaders have been appointed as AICC Senior Observers for Jharkhand for the upcoming assembly elections:

1. Tariq Anwar

2. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

3. Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu

Hours before the Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly polls on Tuesday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding clearance of Rs 1.36 lakh-crore in pending dues from coal companies.

Soren emphasised that he is not asking for a "special budget" for the state but is requesting its rightful dues, which he claims are causing irreparable harm to Jharkhand's development. "This outstanding amount is our right... Jharkhand is not asking for a special budget. We are just asking for our rights—which we will take under all circumstances," Soren posted on X, sharing the open letter to the PM.

The Congress Tuesday claimed the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra knows it is not coming back to power and has spent its last few days "bestowing gifts on the Adani group" at the expense of the people of Mumbai and the state.

Ahead of the announcement of the Maharashtra Assembly polls schedule, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the instructions from the top are clear -- "the Mahayuti's electoral future is bleak, but before it loses power, it must safeguard Modani's financial future".

Speaking to ANI, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, "Mahayuti is fully prepared for the elections. We will go to the forefront. The formula of our three parties is also certain. It will come out in 2-3 days. Mahayuti will go to the people, we will give our manifesto to them. PM Modi's government is in power for the next 5 years and if the Mahayuti government is formed in Maharashtra, then the double-engine government can do good to the people and can take Maharashtra towards development. If even 1 vote goes to Congress, then it will create hindrance in development..."

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday said that the public has said EVMs are "100 per cent foolproof"

Speaking to ANI, Kumar said "The public answers questions by participating in the voting. As far as the EVMs are concerned, they are 100 per cent foolproof. If they raise questions today again, we will tell them again." Earlier, Congress leader Rashid Alvi claimed that EVM's could be manipulated citing the example of Israel hacking pagers of militant outfit Hezbollah.

"In Maharashtra, the opposition should put pressure to insist on voting by paper ballot and not EVMs. Otherwise, in Maharashtra, BJP govt and EC can do anything. If Israel can kill people by use of pagers and walkie-talkies, then where does EVM stand? The PM has very good relations with Israel. Israel is an expert in such things. EVM ka bada khel kahin bhi ho sakta hai aur uske liye BJP chunav se pehle yeh sab khel kar leti hai," Rashid Alvi said.

Last week, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh submitted a memorandum to ECI, and said he hopes that the body takes cognizance of the issue and give appropriate instructions.

Jharkhand is expected to hold elections for its 81-member legislative assembly by December 2024.

A delegation from the ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on September 24 conducted a thorough review of poll preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand at Ranchi, directing central and state enforcement agencies to curb the influence of money power.

In the 2019 elections, Jharkhand conducted polling in five phases, whereas Maharashtra had just one phase.

Speaking to ANI today, BJP national spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari said, "BJP and NDA is fully prepared for Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections. We are confident that like Haryana, Maharashtra will vote for a pro-incumbency government which is the BJP-led NDA government." "The people of Jharkhand are frustrated because of vote bank and corrupt politics of Hemant Soren and they are eager to vote for a pro-development, pro-tribal government under the BJP. We are confident that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, both the state governments will see a BJP government."

The three Lok Sabha seats which are vacant are Wayanad in Kerala, Nanded in Maharashtra and Basirhat in West Bengal.

The Wayanad seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he retained the Rae Bareli seat. He had won the Lok Sabha polls from both the seats.

Congress MP Vasant Chavan, who represented Nanded, and TMC MP Haji Sheikh Nurul Islam, who represented Basirhat, passed away recently.

Shiv Sena UBT has challenged the appointment of 7 Governor Nominated MLCs in the Bombay HC.

This comes after Governor C P Radhakrishnan late on Monday approved the names of seven Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) for the 12 vacant posts under the Governor’s quota — the BJP has three, and the Shiv Sena and NCP have two each.

The announcement of the Maharashtra Assembly elections was expected along with the declaration of the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir elections in August. However, the Election Commission decided to de-couple the poll schedules. The Haryana and Maharashtra elections were held together for at least last three election cycles.

Explaining the decision, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had said since the J-K elections had to be held before September 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, the requirement of forces in the Union Territory was higher and only two polls could be held at a time.

Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, acting on the recommendation of the State Cabinet, late on Monday approved the names of seven Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) for the 12 vacant posts under the Governor's quota -- the BJP has three, and the Shiv Sena and NCP have two each.

MLC Deputy Speaker Neelam Gorhe will administer the oath to newly appointed MLCs at noon on Tuesday

The term of the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly will end on November 26, which means the poll process has to be completed before that. The term of the Jharkhand Assembly, with 81 seats, will end on January 5, 2025. With around 50 by-polls due, the EC could also announce the election dates for those.

Welcome to the live blog!

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections. Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates right here.

The term of the Maharashtra Assembly will end on November 26, and that of the Jharkhand Assembly will end on January 5, 2025.