Wed Nov 20 01:40:58 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra and Jharkhand Hold Assembly Elections; Four States See Bypolls
**Mumbai/Ranchi, November 20, 2024** – Simultaneous assembly elections and by-elections took place across several Indian states today, November 20th, 2024. The most significant events were the Maharashtra Assembly elections, featuring all 288 seats contested in a single phase, and the second and final phase of Jharkhand’s assembly elections, encompassing 38 seats. Additionally, by-elections were held in 15 assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh (9 seats), Punjab (4 seats), Kerala (1 seat), and Uttarakhand (1 seat). Polling began at 7 am and concluded at 6 pm, with results expected on November 23rd.
**Maharashtra:** The state witnessed a high-stakes contest between the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and the opposition Maha Yuti, with six major parties competing under these two alliances. Several constituencies were identified as particularly closely contested.
**Jharkhand:** The second phase of Jharkhand’s elections saw a key battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling coalition, with prominent figures including Chief Minister Hemant Soren and opposition leader Amar Kumar Baury vying for seats. This phase follows the first phase where 43 seats were contested. The 2019 election results were closely contested, with JMM winning 30 seats and BJP winning 25.
**By-elections:** The by-elections saw significant contests, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections made these by-elections crucial for their future prospects. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), despite its strong showing in the state assembly elections, faced a challenge after winning only three Lok Sabha seats.
The outcome of these elections and by-elections is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape in these states and nationally.
First Piper 