Sri Krishen Kaw
Jammu: The Election Commission of India has announced Election dates to be held in 5 states for 679 Assembly Seats, which include Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram, while Jammu and Kashmir seems to be out of the race for now.
Jammu and Kashmir was put under Governor’s rule soon after the BJP-PDP alliance headed by Mehbooba Mufti came to an end on June 19, 2018, as the Centre Government launched a massive anti-terrorist campaign in the Valley. After over a year or so, on August 5, 2019, the Centre Government abrogated Article 370 and 35A, dividing Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh State into two union territories, separating the Ladakh region from Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, both the UTs are headed by Lieutenant Governors, sources added.
As the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is constantly under LG rule, resentment among J&K political parties is brewing against the Centre Government and LG administration for not holding elections in J&K. They cite the reason that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were fed up with constant central rule, and now they ought to have their own elected Government.
Therefore, high hopes were pinned on ECI for the announcement of polls, but there seems to be nothing in the kitty of J&K at this point in time, as only 5 states were announced to be going into the polls in 2023.
In these elections in 5 states for 679 Assembly seats, the number of first-time voters will be 60.2 lakh who fall in the age group of 18-19 years, sources said.
In the last elections in Madhya Pradesh, which were held on November 28, 2018, there were 2899 candidates in the fray. The total number of voters in MP was 3,78,54,811 in the year 2018, whereas according to sources, there will be an increase of 17 lakh new voters in the elections of 2023. The ruling Party BJP has issued a list of 79 candidates, and Aam Aadmi Party has issued a list of 39 candidates, whereas Congress is yet to announce its candidates.
According to the final list of Rajasthan state, 5,26,80,545 voters will exercise their franchise in the 2023 elections. The voters include 2,73,58,627 males and 2,51,79,422 females, besides 606 Transgenders registered in the voter lists. The number of voters above 80 years of age is 11.78 lakh, whereas voters above 100 years of age number 17,241 in Rajasthan.
Similarly, in Chhattisgarh, the total number of voters registered in voter lists is 2,10,20,240, which includes 1,01,20,830 males, 1,02,39,410 females, and 790 Transgenders, sources said.
Meanwhile, Telangana state Government has also finalized a list of 3.17 crore voters who are going to cast their vote in the 2023 elections. This includes 1,03,28,078 males, 1,02,71,470 females, and 191 third genders.
The 5th state is Mizoram where 8,51,895 voters will exercise their franchise of vote in the 2023 elections.