NEW DELHI: The Election Commission, while announcing polls in J&K and Haryana, said it is keeping Maharashtra for later as the state is still dealing with heavy rain and has a long festive season and streak of religious events ahead. Besides, the EC added, the high requirement of forces in J&K did not leave scope for adding Maharashtra in the schedule announced on Friday.
Explaining why Maharashtra polls have not been timed along with Haryana elections, as was the case in the past, CEC Rajiv Kumar said the term of Haryana assembly is ending on November 3, 2024, while that of Maharashtra concludes only on November 26, 2024.Since J&K polls were due this time around and had to be held before September 30, Haryana had to be brought forward as EC would otherwise need to announce it in the midst of J&K poll. Had EC waited until after October 4, the time was not enough to have the new Haryana assembly in place before November 3. “So the only option was to hold the J&K and Haryana polls together,” the CEC said.
A source said Maharashtra polls may be announced shortly after the assembly elections in J&K and Haryana are completed. In all probability, the assembly poll in Jharkhand, where the term of the current assembly is expiring on January 5, 2025, will be brought forward and synced with Maharashtra election.
Addressing a press conference here, Kumar said heavy rains in Maharashtra had led to delays in updation of the voters list in the state, which is considered as a crucial step in the electoral process.
“There was heavy rainfall in Maharashtra, booth level officers have to complete their work. There are several festivals too that have to be factored in. Ganesh Festival, Pitru Paksha, Navratri, Diwali, all that put together, this is what we thought we could handle as two elections at a time,” the CEC said. The festive season will end with Diwali on October 31, and Maharashtra polls could be held after that.
Explaining why Maharashtra polls have not been timed along with Haryana elections, as was the case in the past, CEC Rajiv Kumar said the term of Haryana assembly is ending on November 3, 2024, while that of Maharashtra concludes only on November 26, 2024.Since J&K polls were due this time around and had to be held before September 30, Haryana had to be brought forward as EC would otherwise need to announce it in the midst of J&K poll. Had EC waited until after October 4, the time was not enough to have the new Haryana assembly in place before November 3. “So the only option was to hold the J&K and Haryana polls together,” the CEC said.
A source said Maharashtra polls may be announced shortly after the assembly elections in J&K and Haryana are completed. In all probability, the assembly poll in Jharkhand, where the term of the current assembly is expiring on January 5, 2025, will be brought forward and synced with Maharashtra election.
Addressing a press conference here, Kumar said heavy rains in Maharashtra had led to delays in updation of the voters list in the state, which is considered as a crucial step in the electoral process.
“There was heavy rainfall in Maharashtra, booth level officers have to complete their work. There are several festivals too that have to be factored in. Ganesh Festival, Pitru Paksha, Navratri, Diwali, all that put together, this is what we thought we could handle as two elections at a time,” the CEC said. The festive season will end with Diwali on October 31, and Maharashtra polls could be held after that.