On November 20, the people of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and four other states will head to the polls in a series of high-stakes elections, with results to be counted on November 23. The day will see intense electoral battles in Maharashtra’s 288-strong assembly, the second phase of Jharkhand’s assembly elections, and by-polls in 15 assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand.
Maharashtra Assembly Elections: A Battle Between Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi
Maharashtra’s assembly elections will feature a fierce contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The elections are the first since the Shiv Sena and NCP split into rival factions, with Eknath Shinde leading the Shiv Sena faction and Ajit Pawar heading the NCP faction.
In total, 4,136 candidates, including 2,086 independents, are vying for seats. Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm across the state, with approximately 9.70 crore eligible voters. The BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) 81, NCP 59, Congress 101, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) 86. BSP is fielding candidates in 237 constituencies.
Key figures in the fray include Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis (BJP), Ajit Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray, Milind Deora, and Nana Patole. Political analysts note that local issues will play a significant role in shaping the outcome of this highly anticipated election.
Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Key Phase for CM Hemant Soren
In Jharkhand, the battle between the INDIA bloc (led by JMM) and the NDA (led by BJP) will intensify as voters head to the polls in 38 constituencies across the state. This phase of polling is crucial for the fate of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren (JMM), and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP), among other candidates.
Polling will take place from 7 am to 5 pm, except at 31 booths where voting will end at 4 pm. Over 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender voters, are eligible to cast their ballots across 14,218 polling stations. A total of 528 candidates, including 472 men, 55 women, and one third-gender individual, are contesting.
In the 2019 elections, JMM secured 30 seats, and the BJP won 25, down from 37 in 2014. The JMM-led alliance formed the government, winning 47 seats. This election will be key in determining whether the ruling alliance can retain its power in the state.
By-Polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand
By-elections will also be held on November 20 in 15 assembly seats across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand.
In Uttar Pradesh, by-polls will take place in nine constituencies: Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. A total of 90 candidates are competing in these seats, including a significant contest in Ghaziabad with 14 candidates in the race. This will be the first electoral test for both the INDIA bloc and the NDA in Uttar Pradesh since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Punjab will conduct by-polls in four constituencies: Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC), and Barnala. Kerala will hold a by-election for the Palakkad seat, while Uttarakhand will conduct voting for the Kedarnath seat.
These by-polls will serve as a barometer for the political mood in these states, setting the stage for future contests ahead.
November 20 will be a crucial day for Indian politics, with significant elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and by-polls in several other states. With intense competition across party lines and key figures in the fray, the outcome of these elections will have far-reaching implications, both locally and nationally. Voting will conclude by 6 pm, and the counting of votes is scheduled for November 23.
