Elections 2024: ECI Announces Dates For All 4 Assembly Polls. Know Schedule

As these four states prepare for their Assembly elections, political parties are gearing up for intense campaigns and electoral battles for the mandate of the people to govern at the regional level.

Security beefed up across the country ahead of the Lok Sabha elections ( Image Source :PTI )

As India gears up for its grand democratic spectacle, the General Elections of 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has unveiled the schedules for Assembly elections in four key states: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. These elections, crucial for shaping regional governance and policy-making, are set to determine the composition of the legislative bodies at the state level.

As these four states prepare for their respective Assembly elections, political parties are gearing up for intense campaigns and electoral battles, vying for the mandate of the people to govern and legislate on critical issues at the regional level.

Schedule For Assembly Polls

According to Election Commission of India, the polling dates are: 

Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections - May 13, 2024
Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections - April 19, 2024
Odisha Assembly Elections - May 13, May 20, 2024
Sikkim Assembly Elections - April 19, 2024

Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections will witness a fierce contest as the ruling YSR Congress Party, under the leadership of Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, seeks to defend its overwhelming victory in the 2019 polls. In the previous polls, YSRCP secured 151 out of 175 seats while the TDP bagged 23 seats. The Congress and BJP failed to secure any seats.

Currently, TDP-Janasena-BJP has allied in the state while YSRCP has announced that it will go solo. 

According to ECI,

• Issue of notification: April 18, 2024
• Last Date for filing nominations: April 25, 2024
• Scrutiny of nominations: April 26, 2024
• Last date for withdrawal of candidature: April 29, 2024
• Date of polling: May 13, 2024

Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Elections

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently at the helm, led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Arunachal Pradesh gears up for elections. The state with 60 seats is expected to witness a fight predominantly between the ruling BJP and the Congress for the legislative assembly.

Odisha Assembly Elections

The Odisha Assembly elections will be a pivotal moment for incumbent Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Till now, speculations persist on a possible alliance between BJD and BJP, but no confirmed information is available yet.

In the 2019 Odisha Assembly election, the BJD secured a win by bagging 112 out of 147 seats. The BJP got 23 seats while Congress was able to secure nine seats. 

According to ECI, the counting of votes will be held on June 4, 2024. 

• Issue of Notification: April 18 and April 26, 2024
• Last Date for filing Nominations: April 25 and May 3, 2024
• Scrutiny of Nominations: April 26 and May 4, 2024
• Last date for withdrawal of Candidature: April 29 and May 6, 2024
• Polling of Votes: May 13 and May 20, 2024

Sikkim Assembly Elections

In Sikkim's 32-seat assembly, the upcoming elections hinge on whether ruling party Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, under Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, maintains retains.

In 2019, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha secured 17 out of 32 seats in the Assembly election, closely followed by the Sikkim Democratic Front with 15 seats.