Haryana, Maharashtra poll dates likely by Friday

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is set to announce assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra later this week. Both the states are likely to have a single-day poll in mid-October, EC sources told TOI on Monday.
Sources indicated that the poll dates may be declared latest by Friday. The full Commission is expected to finalize the press note for the twin state polls at its meeting on Tuesday.On Monday, the EC issued a media advisory detailing the arrangements for an “important press conference”.
While the term of the Haryana assembly expires on October 27, the Maharashtra assembly has time until November 8.
The poll time-table for both states has been worked out between Dussehra, which falls on October 3, and Diwali on October 23. The Commission is contemplating finishing counting before October 20, leaving at least a week for government formation in Haryana.
With just over a month’s gap between announcement and polling, the duration of enforcement of model code of conduct will be shorter than usual.
While the BJP hopes to recreate its Lok Sabha poll magic in Maharashtra and Haryana, the Congress, which is the ruling party in both the states, is grappling with anti-incumbency. These are the first state polls to be held after the Lok Sabha elections in April-May threw up a huge mandate in favour of BJP, led by Narendra Modi.
Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand will go to polls separately, possibly in November-December. However, with J&K witnessing its worst floods, the Election Commission will hold discussions with the meteorological experts in the coming days to assess the weather conditions, including the likely onset of winter and snow, before firming up the schedule.
Incidentally, the full Commission, which was slated to travel to J&K on Tuesday to review poll preparedness, had to postpone its visit on account of the floods.
The term of the J&K and Jharkhand assemblies is due to expire on January 3 and January 19 respectively.
Around 60,000 Central troops have been put at the disposal of the Commission for the assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra, J&K and Jharkhand.