Maha to vote on Nov 20, Jharkhand on Nov 13 & 20

EC also announces by-polls to Wayanad, Nanded LS seats; 48 Assembly constituencies

- NARESH BISWANI

NEW DELHI: The Assembly polls in Maharashtra will be held in a single phase on November 20, while Jharkhand polls will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, the Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday.

Counting of votes will be taken up for the two states on November 23.

“There are 9.63 crore eligible voters in Maharashtra, while the number of eligible voters in Jharkhand is 2.6 crore,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference here while announcing the poll schedule.

Bypolls will also be held in 48 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats, the CEC said.

Bye-elections to 47 Assembly seats and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will be held on November 13. Bypolls to the Kedarnath Assembly seat in Uttarakhand and the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra will be held on November 20. Bypolls to the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal and Milkipur in Uttar Pradesh were not announced as election petitions are pending for the two seats.

Kumar said elections will be held in both states on Wednesdays to address the problem of urban apathy.