Maharashtra will go to polls in a single phase on the 20th of next month, while assembly elections in Jharkhand will be conducted in two phases on the 13th and 20th of  November.  The counting of votes will take place on the 23rd of next month in the two states. The  Election Commission today announced the schedule for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls. Announcing the poll schedules in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the notification for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly election will be issued on the 22nd of October and candidates can file their nominations till the 29th of October. He added that over one lakh polling booths will be set up for 9.63 crore voters in the state.

In Jharkhand, the notification for the first phase of voting will be issued on the 18th of this month and candidates can make their nominations till the 25th of October. For the second phase of polling in the state, the notification will be issued on the 22nd of October and the nomination can be filed till the 29th of October.  The Chief Election Commissioner informed that 2.6 crore voters will exercise their franchise at over 26 thousand polling stations in Jharkhand. With the announcement of the poll schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in both states.

The Commission also announced the schedule for bye-election in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats. Bye polls for 47 assembly Constituencies in different states and the Wayanad Parliamentary seat will be held on the 13th of next month. The bye polls for one assembly seat in Uttarakhand and Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra will be conducted on 20th November.

Chief Election Commissioner,  Rajiv  Kumar said that the Commission is committed to free and fair as well as inducement-free and violence-free elections. He said directions have been issued to Enforcement Agencies to crack down on the use of money power to ensure free and fair elections. He added that Enforcement agencies are working in a coordinated manner to nullify the role of inducements in elections and ensure a Level Playing Field. He said, assured minimum facilities will be made available to the voters at the polling stations and PwDs and senior citizens above 85 years can avail the facility of home voting. Mr Kumar said every process of polling will be fully videographed. The Chief Election Commissioner also appealed to the voters of Maharashtra and Jharkhand to come out in large numbers to participate in the festival of democracy.