Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The Election Commission is expected to announce the dates for assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra in the coming days. Speculation is rife that the announcement could be made on October 14 or shortly thereafter. The term of the Maharashtra government ends on November 26, while Jharkhand’s term concludes on December 29.
Typically, the Election Commission enforces the code of conduct 45 days prior to the end of a government’s term. However, with only 40 days remaining for the Maharashtra government’s term, political circles are abuzz with discussions about the impending election dates.
Elections After Chhath Festival
A major question remains whether Jharkhand’s assembly elections will be held alongside Maharashtra’s, or if Maharashtra will follow Jharkhand’s timeline. If the elections are to be held together, the code of conduct could be imposed within the next two days. If not, the code of conduct might be implemented after the Chhath festival in November. The Election Commission is likely to announce dates keeping in mind the festive season. With Diwali on November 3 and Chhath six days later, it’s expected that the elections in both states could take place after these festivals, especially as a large number of people travel to Bihar from Jharkhand for Chhath.
Impact of Festivals on Campaigning
There are concerns that the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals may affect election campaigning. As the people of Jharkhand are typically busy with festive preparations, campaigns might not gain as much traction during this period. The local administration in Jharkhand is also preoccupied with Chhath festival arrangements for about 8-10 days, which could impact election preparations.
