Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is gearing up for its upcoming Assembly elections, scheduled for November 17, 2023. The crucial polling exercise will see 230 Assembly Constituencies in the state casting their votes. The momentous day of reckoning, when the electoral fate will be sealed, is set for December 3, 2023, with results promptly announced on the very same day. Thus, the electoral process will conclude well before December 5.

Beyond Madhya Pradesh, several other states, including Rajasthan, Mizoram, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, are also poised for their respective electoral battles. The Election Commission has disclosed its plan to establish a staggering total of 1.77 lakh polling stations spanning across all these states.

The Election Commission divulged that the gazette notification for Madhya Pradesh is slated for release on October 21, 2023. Aspiring candidates must file their nominations by the deadline of October 30, 2023. A rigorous scrutiny of all nominations will be conducted on October 31, ensuring that the process adheres to transparency and fairness. Candidates are allowed to withdraw their nominations until November 2, 2023.

To safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, the Commission will deploy border checkposts to monitor and curb the illicit flow of cash, alcohol, narcotics, and other undue inducements. Over 940 such border checkposts are expected to be erected across the states participating in the electoral exercise.

Recalling the last Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh held on November 28, 2018, it's noteworthy that the Congress emerged victorious on that occasion. However, the party's hold on power was short-lived, as it lost control in 2020 when 22 legislators resigned. Subsequently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who assumed the role of Chief Minister.

Having ruled the state since 2003, with a brief 18-month hiatus between 2018 and 2020, the BJP is now faced with the formidable challenge of combating anti-incumbency sentiments in its quest to retain power for another term.

In this high-stakes political contest, the major contenders include the BJP and the Congress, two dominant players in Madhya Pradesh's political landscape. Additionally, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party are also vying for electoral success in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made frequent visits to Madhya Pradesh, addressing numerous rallies in a bid to sway voter sentiment. Concurrently, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has embarked on an extensive statewide tour, addressing rallies across the state to counteract any anti-incumbency sentiments and secure a historic term in office.

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