The Election Commission of India has announced that the schedule for the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections will be revealed today at 3:30 pm. The terms for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assemblies are set to end on November 26 and January 5, 2025, respectively.

Maharashtra Election: A Battle of Alliances

The Maharashtra assembly elections are expected to be a significant contest between two major alliances. On one side, there is the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which includes BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. On the other side is the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP-SP.

Tensions have escalated following the death of NCP leader Baba Siddique on October 12. The opposition has raised concerns about a collapse in law and order under the current Eknath Shinde-led government. On October 13, leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi, including Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Nana Patole, held a press conference, releasing a detailed "chargesheet" against the Mahayuti government, accusing it of corruption, scams, and mismanagement.

Jharkhand Election: JMM Alliance vs BJP

In Jharkhand, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance will be facing stiff competition from the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The NDA had a dominant performance in the Lok Sabha elections, but the JMM-led alliance remains confident, having announced plans to contest all 81 seats. The JMM is hoping to challenge what they call the BJP's "double-engine government."

Meanwhile, the BJP’s core group in Jharkhand is meeting today to finalize their candidates for all 81 seats. The meeting will be chaired by BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.