ECI announces Maharashtra election on November 20; Jharkhand to vote in two phases, results on November 23.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections. Maharashtra will hold its election on November 20, while Jharkhand will have a two-phase election on November 13 and 20. The counting of votes for both states will take place on November 23.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Gyanesh Kumar and Sukbhir Singh Sandhu, made the announcement during a press conference in New Delhi. The terms of the Maharashtra assembly, with 288 seats, ends on November 26, while Jharkhand’s term concludes on January 5, 2025.

In Maharashtra, the election will see a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi (comprising Shiv Sena-UBT, NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction, and Congress) and the ruling Mahayuti Alliance (BJP, Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction, and NCP’s Ajit Pawar faction). For Jharkhand, the election will feature 81 constituencies, and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will be in an alliance with Congress.

The bye-elections for 47 assembly seats and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat will also be held on November 13.