Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat. (IndiaTV)
The Election Commission on Saturday (October 6) announced dates for Assembly elections to be held in five states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. While Chattisgarh will vote in two phases, other states will vote in a single phase. Counting of votes in all the five states will be done on December 11.
The election in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will be held on November 28. Chhattisgarh will vote in two phases on November 12 and 20. Voting in Rajasthan and Telangana will be held in single phase on December 7.
Election Commission's notification: READ
Announcing the dates for Assembly elections on five states, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said that the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in all the these states immediately.
Assembly Elections 2018: Important Dates:
| States | Last Date of Filing Nominations | Scrutiny of Nominations | Withdrawal of Nominations | Date of Polling | Counting of Votes |
| Madhya Pradesh | Nov 9 | Nov 12 | Nov 14 | Nov 28 | Dec 11 |
| Rajasthan | Nov 19 | Nov 20 | Nov 22 | Dec 7 | Dec 11 |
| Mizoram | Nov 9 | Nov 12 | Nov 14 | Nov 28 | Dec 11 |
| Telangana | Nov 19 | Nov 20 | Nov 22 | Dec 7 | Dec 11 |
| Chhattisgarh | Dec 11 | ||||
| Phase- I | Oct 23 | Oct 24 | Oct 26 | Nov 12 | |
| Phase- II | Nov 2 | Nov 3 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 |
Madhya Pradesh (Total seats - 230):
The BJP is ruling the state for last 15 years and incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took over the reins of power on 29 November 2005.
The state Assembly has 231 members out of which 230 are elected directly by the people while one member is nominated by the Governor.
Madhya Pradesh will witness a direct contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress.
Dates of Asembly Elections on 5 states
Rajasthan (Total seats – 200):
The BJP is ruling the state for last 5 years under the chief ministership of Vasundhara Raje Scindia who took over as state CM on 13 December 2013.
The state Assembly has 200 members.
Rajasthan will witness a direct contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress. The Congress is hoping to return to power in the state in the upcoming elections.
Chhattisgarh (Total seats - 90):
Like Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is ruling Chhattisgarh for last 15 years. Chief Minister Raman Singh is heading the state since 7 December 2003.
The state Assembly has 90 seats.
Chhattisgarh will witness a triangular contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and Amit Jogi’s newly formed Janta Congress Chhattisgarh which has joined hands with Mayawati’s BSP.
Telangana (Total seats- 119)
Incumbent Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is ruling Telangana since 2 June 2014, the day it came into existence as a separate state. The state Assembly has 119 seats.
Telangana will witness a triangular contest between the ruling TRS, the Congress and the BJP.
Mizoram (Total seats - 40)
The Congress is ruling the state for last 5 years under the chief ministership of Lal Thanhawla.
Mizoram Assembly has 40 seats.
WATCH: Dates for Assembly elections in 5 states announced
