The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram on Monday, marking the last major electoral exercise before the 2024 national elections. With the announcement of the schedule, the model code of conduct will come into effect, regulating the conduct of political parties and candidates in the lead-up to the elections and preventing government functionaries from making announcements that could influence voters.
In 2018, these five states, which collectively account for approximately 15% of India’s population and boast around 200 million voters, held their elections in four phases between November 12 and December 7. The polls saw varying assembly sizes, ranging from 40 seats in Mizoram to 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Controversy surrounded the announcement of the poll schedule in 2018, with delays and allegations of political maneuvering.
In the aftermath of the 2018 elections, the Congress party managed to wrest power from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, which played a significant role in the 2019 general elections. Telangana’s ruling party, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), retained power, while the Mizo National Front formed the government in Mizoram.
The upcoming elections hold significant political implications. The BJP seeks to regain power in Madhya Pradesh, where it faced setbacks in the 2018 elections, while the Congress aims to maintain its hold on these states and expand its influence. Telangana is expected to witness a three-cornered contest, while leadership issues persist in Rajasthan for both major parties.
As the term of the Mizoram assembly ends on December 17, and those of the other four states vary in January, the ECI’s announcement sets the stage for a closely watched electoral battle that will shape the political landscape in these key states.
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