NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly election dates today. Additionally, by-elections for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, as well as the Chelakkara and Palakkad Assembly constituencies, will be conducted at the same time. Maharashtra is likely to go to the polls on November 15.

By-elections are to be held in over 45 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats (Wayanad in Kerala and Basirhat in West Bengal). Election dates will be announced considering Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. Bihari voters working in Maharashtra return after vacation in the second week of November.

The term of the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly ends on November 26. Elections must be completed before that. The term of the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will end on January 5, 2025. In 2019, the elections were held in five phases in Jharkhand and in one phase in Maharashtra.