As EC Announces November Voting Dates And 3 December Counting, Here's An Overview Of Five States Going To Polls

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday (9 October) announced that voting will be held in a single phase for Mizoram on 7 November, Madhya Pradesh on 17 November, Rajasthan on 23 November and Telangana on 30 November.

In Chhattisgarh, the voting will take place in two phases, on 7 and 17 November. The counting of votes for all states will be held together on 3 December.

Here's a brief about all states going to polls:

Chhattisgarh

Congress is seeking a second term in Chhattisgarh after it replaced Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after 15 years of rule in 2018.

BJP is focusing its efforts on riding on the anti-incumbency wave without announcing a Chief Minister face and relying on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity.

Madhya Pradesh

The state has been ruled by the BJP for two decades since 2003 and Shivraj Singh Chouhan has become the longest-serving BJP CM having served for around 17 years.

However, the party has not announced a CM face, contrary to the Congress contesting election on former CM Kamal Nath's face. While the BJP's focus is on a 'double engine government', Congress is alleging corruption against the BJP.

Mizoram

Currently, Mizo National Front (MNF) runs the government in Mizoram with 28 seats in the 40-seat assembly. Going by the trend of the past decades, MNF may retain power as voters usually change the government every two terms.

However, notable development in the state is that the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) seeks to replace the Congress as the principal opposition by focusing on change in the political system

Rajasthan

The Congress-ruled state follows a trend of changing government every five years, giving hope to the opposition BJP. Here neither of the parties has announced a CM face.

While the Congress is promoting CM Ashok Gehlot's welfare schemes to win the trust of the voters, the BJP is busy highlighting the bad state of law and order, especially concerning crimes against women.

Telangana

The newly formed state has elected a Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), now known as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), twice under the CMship of K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

However, PM Modi has been targeting KCR in his public rallies as the latter plans to contest on two seats, while the Congress is trying to appease Muslim and Christian minorities in the state.