The countdown has begun for the state assembly elections in five Indian states – Telangana, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. With just over two weeks left, the political fervor is on the rise. Political parties are releasing their candidate lists for all these states, and the public is eagerly following every election-related update.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key details concerning these upcoming elections:

Seat Allocation

All major political parties have already announced their candidate lists for the upcoming elections in these five states. As things stand, in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, the primary contest is between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress. To form a government in Madhya Pradesh, a party needs to secure a minimum of 116 out of the 230 assembly seats. In Chhattisgarh, a total of 90 seats are up for grabs, and a party must win at least 46 to form a government.

In Rajasthan, there are 200 assembly seats, and achieving the magic number of 100 is essential to secure a majority. Meanwhile, in Telangana, a total of 119 seats are available, and a party must secure at least 60 seats to claim a majority. In Mizoram, where there are 40 assembly seats, a party needs to win 21 seats to form a government.

Who Rules Where

In the past elections, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh witnessed a head-to-head contest between the BJP and Congress. However, in the 2018 elections, BJP faced defeat in all three states, prompting the party to adopt a new strategy. Instead of fielding veteran politicians, the BJP decided to field sitting Members of Parliament and Union Ministers in the assembly elections.

In Madhya Pradesh, Congress won 114 out of 230 seats in the last election, while the BJP secured 109 seats. Later, with the support of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress formed the government, appointing Kamal Nath as Chief Minister. Chhattisgarh saw a landslide victory for Congress, which secured 68 out of 90 seats, ending BJP’s 15-year reign with just 15 seats.

In Rajasthan, the state has a tradition of alternating between the BJP and Congress in the assembly elections. In 2018, Congress won 99 seats, and with the support of other parties, they achieved the magical figure of 100, forming the government with Ashok Gehlot as Chief Minister. Prior to that, in the 2013 elections, BJP’s Vasundhara Raje became the Chief Minister.

As for Telangana, it is currently under the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party, with K. Chandrashekhar Rao serving as the Chief Minister. In the last election, TRS won a substantial majority, securing 88 out of 119 seats. In Mizoram, the Mizo National Front (MNF) secured 26 out of 40 seats, allowing Zoramthanga to become the Chief Minister.

Voting Schedule

The Election Commission of India announced the dates for the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram on October 9th. In Madhya Pradesh, voting will take place on November 17, while in Rajasthan, the polling day is scheduled for November 23. Chhattisgarh will have a two-phase election on November 7 and November 17.

Mizoram will go to the polls on November 7, and Telangana’s election day is set for November 30. The election results for all these states will be declared on the same day, December 3rd. As the elections draw nearer, the anticipation and excitement among the citizens are palpable, and the political landscape in these states is poised for a significant transformation.