The Election Commission has announced the election schedule for five states- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Telangana. Elections in Chhattisgarh will take place in two phases, while polls for other states will all be held in one phase. Phase one for Chhattisgarh will take place on November 12, while phase two will be held on November 20. Voting will be held on November 28 in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram. Polls will be held on December 7 in Rajasthan and Telangana. Results for all five states will be out on December 11.
Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said Chhattisgarh's 18 assembly constituencies will go to polls in Phase One, and the remaining 72 seats in Phase Two. Defending the decision to hold two phases, Rawat said in the past too, voters, political leaders and security personnel have been targeted by Naxals and it was necessary to have polls in multiple phases. The Model Code of Conduct, which bars the ruling party and even other parties from disturbing level playing field, came into force in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram immediately. Term of MP assembly ends on January 7, Rajasthan on January 20, Chhattisgarh on January 5, and Mizoram on December 15.
In Telangana, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had dissolved the assembly on September 6, paving way for early elections. A lot is at stake in the MP, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan polls as the BJP and Congress are in direct contest. In 2013, the BJP had won 165, 163 and 49 seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assemblies respectively, with the Congress securing 58, 21 and 39 seats. The corresponding strength of these assemblies are 230, 200 and 90. In Telangana, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi is seen to be going strong and will face contest from the Congress and the BJP. After winning 63 seats in the 2014 assembly polls, the TRS' ranks have swelled with members of rival parties joining it over the years. The state assembly has 119 seats.
In Mizoram, the Congress has been in power since 2008. In the hill state with 40 assembly seats, Congress has been in fight against state parties like Mizo National Front and Mizo Peoples Conference. The Union Home Ministry has ordered for the deployment of about 25,000 security men for election duties in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. These paramilitary and state police personnel, part of the additional 250 companies to be sent in for the polls, have been asked to take position by October 15 in states assigned to them.
While 50 fresh companies each have been marked to be sent to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the highest of 150 such teams have been earmarked by the ministry to be sent to Chhattisgarh that has its southern part affected by a high-level threat of Maoist violence. A single state police or Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) company has about 100 personnel. The EC said, this time, to ensure “wholesome and constructive participation” of persons with disabilities in the election process, the
Commission has decided to issue accessible photo voter slips with braille features to persons with visual impairment.
In a statement, EC said it is “genuinely concerned” about noise pollution and “great disturbance to the peace and tranquility of the general public by the reckless, widespread and flagrant use of loudspeakers during election canvassing and campaign.” It also said that the use of public address system or loudspeakers or any sound amplifier, whether fitted on vehicles or in static position used for public meetings for electioneering purposes will not be permitted between 10.00 pm and 6.00 am.
