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Political parties in Maharashtra have slammed the Election Commission for not declaring polls in the state. (Representative image via PTI)
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said heavy rains in Maharashtra had also delayed the update of the state's electoral list, considered a crucial step in the electoral process.
Maharashtra assembly elections will be announced later, the Election Commission said on Friday, citing the need for increased security forces for polls in Jammu and Kashmir and overcrowding during the festive season in the western state.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a press conference here that heavy rains in Maharashtra also led to delays in updating the state's electoral list, which is considered a crucial step in the electoral process.
Kumar also hinted that the Maharashtra elections may be held after Diwali. “Maharashtra is experiencing heavy rainfall and the BLOs (booth-level officers) have to complete their work. There are also several festivals that have to be taken into account.
Kumar said the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana were held together in 2019, but Jammu and Kashmir did not participate in them then.
He said four elections would be held this year – Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and a fifth in Delhi early next year.
“Following the higher profile demands of J&K, we have decided to conduct two elections at once,” Kumar said, making it clear that the Maharashtra Assembly elections cannot be announced in the midterms.
The Central Election Commission said elections in Maharashtra will be held before the end of the parliamentary term.
Political parties in Maharashtra have slammed the Election Commission for not declaring polls in the state.
'Restrictions on security forces' not in Maharashtra, says Shiv Sena leader The reasons for holding elections in the state are also being held in J&K.
“This illegal and unconstitutional regime of the PPP and 'mindhe' has no moral right to continue. They never have. The state has rejected them once and will reject them again. It looks like the European Commission is giving them some breathing space to Their contractors loot our country,” Thackeray said.
Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP said the BJP-led Mahayutthi Alliance is biding its time with the help of the Election Commission as the people of Maharashtra gave them a “miserable defeat” in the Lok Sabha elections ”.
NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said: “BJP-led Mahayudhi is biding his time with the help of #ECI as Maharashtra voters in Lok Sabha elections Failed miserably.
“But the fact is that none of these strategies will work for them as the people of Maharashtra are wise and will once again reject Mahayuthy in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, ” Krasto said.
(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from United News Agency-PTI)
