After the Lok Sabha Elections in 2024, political enthusiasts across India are now eagerly awaiting upcoming Assembly Elections in India scheduled to take place between June 2024 and November 2025. These elections will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the country. Let’s delve into the details:
States Going to Polls
Haryana: The assembly election in Haryana is expected to occur around October 2024. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) faces a challenge after a setback in the Lok Sabha Elections. In the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority. Here are the key results:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): The BJP won 40 seats out of the 90-member assembly.
Indian National Congress (INC): The INC secured 31 seats.
Jannayak Janta Party (JJP): The JJP, a newly formed party, won 10 seats.
Others: Various smaller parties and independent candidates secured the remaining seats.
Despite not winning an outright majority, the BJP formed the government with the support of the JJP. Manohar Lal Khattar continued as the Chief Minister of Haryana.
Maharashtra: Like Haryana, upcoming Assembly Elections in India’s state of Maharashtra will also take place around October 2024. The BJP-NDA government currently holds power in the state. However, the recent Lok Sabha results indicate a decline in their seat share. The Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress, emerged as a formidable force in the state.
In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the results were as follows:
- Shiv Sena: Shiv Sena won 56 seats out of the 288-member assembly.
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): The BJP secured 105 seats.
- Indian National Congress (INC): The INC won 44 seats.
- Nationalist Congress Party (NCP): The NCP secured 54 seats.
- Others: Various smaller parties and independent candidates secured the remaining seats.
The BJP emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority. Initially, the BJP and Shiv Sena, which had an alliance, had differences over the power-sharing agreement, leading to a brief period of uncertainty. Eventually, they formed the government together, with Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP as Chief Minister and Ajit Pawar of the NCP as Deputy Chief Minister.
However, this government didn’t last long, and subsequently, a coalition government between Shiv Sena, NCP, and INC was formed, with Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena as the Chief Minister. Later, the NCP broke into two factions, one led by Ajit Pawar and other by Sharad Pawar. The Shiv Sena also broke into two factions led by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray. Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde’s groups made a government by aligning with BJP, this government
Jharkhand: Upcoming Assembly Elections in India’s state of Jharkhand are likely to be held in 2025. In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections, held in December 2019, the results were as follows:
- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM): JMM emerged as the single largest party, winning 30 seats out of the 81-member assembly.
- Indian National Congress (INC): The INC secured 16 seats.
- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD): The RJD won 1 seat.
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): The BJP secured 25 seats.
- All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Party: AJSU won 2 seats.
- Others: Various smaller parties and independent candidates secured the remaining seats.
The JMM formed the government in alliance with the INC and RJD, and Hemant Soren of the JMM became the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. This election marked the end of the BJP’s reign in Jharkhand after three consecutive terms in power.
In January 2024, Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a land scam case. He denies the allegations, and opposition parties view it as vindictive action by the central government.
Delhi: Upcoming Assembly Elections in India’s National capital will be held in February 2025. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi but lost to the BJP in the 2015 and 2020 assembly polls. There is a chance that the party will contest the Delhi assembly elections without an alliance with the Congress.
Bihar: Nitish Kumar’s leadership will guide the Janata Dal (United) in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections. The NDA aims to retain power, while the opposition parties gear up for a tough fight.
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the results were as follows:
- National Democratic Alliance (NDA): The NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) [JDU], emerged as the winner.
- Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan): The RJD, along with the Indian National Congress (INC) and other regional parties, formed the opposition alliance.
- Others: Various smaller parties and independent candidates also contested the election.
The specific seat tally for each party in the 243-member Bihar Assembly was as follows:
- National Democratic Alliance (NDA): The NDA won a total of 125 seats.
- Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan): The Mahagathbandhan secured 110 seats.
- Others: Other smaller parties and independent candidates won the remaining seats.
Nitish Kumar of the JDU continued as the Chief Minister of Bihar. This election marked the NDA’s victory for the fourth consecutive term in Bihar. Later, NDA government in Bihar shattered when Nitish Kumar decided to join with RJD to form Mahagathbandhan government. In Jaunary, 2024 he again formed NDA government in Bihar by joining hands with BJP. Sounds like a circus play? Welcome to the Indian Politics. Nothing is impossible here. Upcoming Assembly Elections in India’s state of Bihar will surely be interesting for all politics-watchers.
Jammu and Kashmir: Upcoming Assembly Elections in India’s union territory of Jammu and Kashmir can take place before September 2024. The political situation remains fluid, and the election outcome will be closely watched.
Impact of General elections on Upcoming Assembly Elections in India
While some believe that Lok Sabha election results directly influence subsequent assembly polls, historical data suggests otherwise. For instance:
- In Delhi, the BJP swept all seven Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and 2019 but lost to the AAP in the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections.
- Similarly, in Jharkhand, the BJP secured 11 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls but faced defeat in the 2019 assembly elections.
As India gears up for these crucial assembly elections, political parties strategize, alliances form, and voters prepare to cast their ballots. The outcomes will shape state governments and impact national politics.
