State elections schedule 2023

The upcoming assembly elections in India's states of Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana are of significant political importance, serving as a barometer for the public sentiment leading up to the general elections scheduled for the following summer in 2024. With over 161 million eligible voters in these five states, these elections are a pivotal part of India's political landscape.

The Election Commission of India has announced the election schedule for these states. Mizoram, the smallest among them with 40 legislative assembly seats, will cast its votes on November 7th. Chhattisgarh, boasting a 90-member assembly, will hold elections in two phases on November 7th and 17th. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana will go to the polls on November 17th, 23rd, and 30th, respectively, and the election results will be announced on December 3rd.

The significance of these assembly elections is underscored by the fact that they represent the final electoral tests before the general elections in 2024. Therefore, the outcome of these state elections is closely watched, and they are seen as a prelude to the impending national polls.

Here is an overview of the political landscape in each of these states:

Mizoram: The Mizoram Assembly election is expected to occur in November-December 2023. In the previous 2018 assembly elections, the Mizo National Front secured a majority, ending the Congress Party's reign in the northeastern states for the first time. Zoramthama became the Chief Minister.

Chhattisgarh: The Chhattisgarh Assembly election is anticipated to take place in November this year. In the previous 2018 elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) won a significant majority against the ruling BJP. Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress became the Chief Minister.

Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections are set to take place in November. In the previous 2018 election, Congress emerged as the single-largest party, securing Kamal Nath as the Chief Minister. However, the government witnessed political turmoil in 2020 when several Congress MLAs defected to the BJP, leading to Shivraj Singh Chouhan's return as the Chief Minister.

Rajasthan: The Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 are expected to be held in December. In the previous 2018 elections, the Indian National Congress secured the most seats but fell just one short of a majority. The Congress formed the government in coalition with the Bahujan Samaj Party, with Ashok Gehlot as the Chief Minister.

Telangana: The Telangana Assembly election is anticipated in December 2023. In the previous 2018 elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi secured a victory and formed the state government with K. Chandrashekar Rao as Chief Minister.

Apart from the above 5 states several other states are gearing up for the 2024 elections:

Andhra Pradesh Elections 2024: Scheduled to occur before June 2024, the state will vote to elect all 175 members of the legislative assembly. In the previous 2019 elections, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) secured a commanding majority by winning 151 out of 175 seats, with Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy becoming the Chief Minister.

Arunachal Pradesh Elections 2024: Expected to take place by April 2024, Arunachal Pradesh will witness the election of 60 members to the state assembly. In the previous 2019 assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious, winning 41 seats and forming the state government with Pema Khandu as the Chief Minister.

Odisha Elections 2024: The Odisha Legislative Assembly election is anticipated to be held on or before June 2024, with all 147 seats up for grabs. In the 2019 elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by Naveen Patnaik, secured a significant majority by winning 112 seats, and Patnaik was reappointed as Chief Minister.

Sikkim Elections 2024: Projected to take place before April 2024, Sikkim will elect 32 members to its 10th Legislative Assembly. In the 2019 assembly elections, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha emerged victorious with 17 seats, leading to Prem Singh Tamang becoming the Chief Minister.

Haryana Elections 2024: Expected to be held on or before October 2024, Haryana will see the election of all 90 members of the legislative assembly. In the previous 2019 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the largest share of seats with 40, forming the government through a post-poll alliance with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and independent MLAs. Manohar Lal Khattar was appointed as the Chief Minister, with Dushyant Chautala of the JJP serving as his deputy.

Maharashtra Elections 2024: Set to take place on or before October 2024, the state of Maharashtra will elect all 288 members of the legislative assembly. In the 2019 elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena, secured a clear majority. However, the alliance faced internal conflicts, leading to the Shiv Sena forming a new coalition, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Indian National Congress. Uddhav Thackeray assumed the position of Chief Minister. Subsequently, political upheaval ensued as Eknath Shinde and his loyal MLAs from the Shiv Sena split from the party and formed a government with the BJP.

Additionally, there is anticipation regarding the Election Commission of India potentially holding elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This would mark the first election in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, a move that altered the region's special status. The unfolding electoral landscape in these states has far-reaching implications for India's political dynamics and the strategies adopted by various parties in the run-up to the general elections.