Assembly Elections 2023 Highlights: 'Congress Won't Field Those Who Lost Thrice', Party Leader Says After CEC Meet

Assembly Elections 2023 Highlights: Please follow this space for all the latest updates on Assembly polls in five states.

Background

Assembly Elections 2023 Highlights: Hello and welcome to the Assembly Elections 2023 live blog, please follow this space for all the latest updates on Assembly elections in five states.Pollas are due in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram in November-December before the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. In Rajasthan, election to the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly is likely to be held in or before the first week of December. The BJP will be banking on the fact that since the 1998 polls, Rajasthan is known to switch between the saffron party and the Congress in each assembly poll. The Congress, on the other hand, will be looking to buck the trend.In the Chhattisgarh assembly elections held in 2018, the Congress won 68 seats ending 15 years of BJP rule in the state. The BJP has already started preparations in advance, taking lessons from the results of the 2018 polls, to get an edge before the election schedules are announced. Madhya Pradesh will elect legislators from 230 Assembly constituencies. The last Assembly polls in 2018 saw the Congress coming to power, with veteran leader Kamal Nath taking oath as the chief minister. A political upheaval rocked the state in 2020, after the then Congressman Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with 22 loyalist MLAs, switched over to the saffron camp. The Congress government fell after being reduced to a minority and the BJP formed the government, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan returning as chief minister. Meanwhile, a poster war has erupted with both BJP and Congress targeting each other and intensifying their attacks. On Wednesday, the Congress party released a poster on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi captioned "The Biggest Liar" and another calling him a "Jumla Boy" who was "going to hit the election rally soon".  In a sharp retort, the saffron party on Thursday shared a poster of Rahul Gandhi with several heads and with the title "Bharat Khatre Mein Hai - A Congress party production. Directed by George Soros"."The new age Ravan is here. He is Evil. Anti Dharma. Anti Ram. His aim is to destroy Bharat," the BJP said on X.

07/10/2023 20:07:45

Assembly Elections 2023 Live: 'Congress won't field those who lost...': CEC meeting ends without decision on candidates for MP polls

After the Central Election Committee meeting of Congress to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in Delhi, Congress leader Jitendra Singh says, "Today, a CEC meeting took place and in the meeting, we've discussed around 230 seats...We've discussed different criteria, the names are not yet finalised but in the next meeting, we will try...On most of the seats, discussion has happened...Winability is the biggest criterion, after that those who lost three times in a row, we won't give them (a seat)...," (ANI)

07/10/2023 19:20:37

Assembly Elections 2023 Live: Kamal Nath says decision on MP Cong candidates to be finalised in a week

After the Central Election Committee meeting of Congress to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections in Delhi, Former Madhya Pradesh CM and Congress State President Kamal Nath says, "...We have held discussions on several names. At present, no decision has been taken. The decision will be taken in the next 6-7 days. We have held a discussion on 130-140 seats...Another meeting will be called and the decision will be made..." (ANI)

07/10/2023 18:45:23

Assembly Elections 2023 Live: Cong MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on CEC meeting

After the Central Election Committee meeting of Congress in Delhi, party MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "...A lot of discussion happened but everything will not be revealed..." (ANI)

07/10/2023 17:39:09

Assembly Elections 2023 Live: Pawan Khera says Congress party's candidate list for MP polls could release today

On the release of the candidates list for Madhya Pradesh Elections, Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "Meeting is still going on... Hopefully, the list will come by the evening." (ANI)

07/10/2023 16:37:46

Assembly Elections 2023 Live: Kharge, Sonia, Rahul Gandhi take part in Congress CEC meeting to finalise candidates for MP polls

Central Election Committee meeting of Congress to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections underway in Delhi Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are attending the meeting

06/10/2023 22:49:34

Two BRS Leaders Quit Party Ahead Of Telangana Polls

In a setback for the ruling BRS in Telangana ahead of the elections, two of its senior leaders, one MLC and a sitting legislator, left the party on Friday, PTI reported. 

06/10/2023 19:48:07

Freebies Ahead Of Elections: SC Takes Note Of PIL, Seeks Response Of MP, Rajasthan Govts

Freebies being doled out by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments ahead of assembly polls came under scrutiny by Supreme Court on Friday, PTI reported. The court sought responses from the two states, the Centre and the Election Commission on a PIL alleging misuse of public money.

06/10/2023 18:41:35

Dharmendra Pradhan Expresses Desire To Contest 2024 LS Polls From Odisha

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday (October 6) revealed his aspiration to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Odisha and has formally conveyed his request to the party. In an interview with the news agency PTI, Pradhan underlined the BJP's overarching objective of securing a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in serving the nation. Read the full report here. 

06/10/2023 18:01:14

Assembly Elections 2023 Live: VP Dhankhar Calls For 'Respect Of Constitutional Positions' Amidst Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot's Statement

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar responded to comments made by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, expressing concern about the diminishing respect for constitutional positions. Dhankhar remarked, "Some people are saying why are you coming here again and again... I do not expect people in authority to make light of constitutional positions. This is not good for democracy." 

06/10/2023 14:53:29

Directed To Ensure Smooth Polls Free From Violence, Menace Of Money: CEC

"It has been directed to ensure that upcoming polls (in five states) are conducted in order and free from violence and menace of money power," says Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar after the meeting of observers convened by the Election Commission in Delhi, pertaining to upcoming Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, and Telangana.

06/10/2023 14:23:15

Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi Addresses Rally In Chhattisgarh's Kanker

Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh's Kanker, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi recalled the time when former PMs Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi visited the region in the state.

06/10/2023 13:49:55

Regional Parties Converting Into Family Parties: Nadda In Telangana

Slowly regional parties are converted into family parties, says BJP national president JP Nadda in Telangana.

06/10/2023 13:20:19

BJP Only Party Which Has Been Consistent Right Since Incpetion: Nadda In Telangana

BJP is the only party which has been consistent right from its very inception, says BJP chief JP Nadda in Telangana. Nadda said that the BJP is the only one fighting as a national party amid family parties all over the country.

06/10/2023 12:23:08

'Shows Their Frustration': PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti Over BJP's 'Ravan' Post On Rahul Gandhi

On BJP's "New Age Ravan" post on X for Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti says, "It shows their frustration. They are frustrated with the INDIA alliance. They know their all tactics including Hindu-Muslim have failed...They talk about 'Santana Dharma'. Does 'Santana Dharma' teach you to call your opponent 'Ravan'.  They meet Muslim leaders and visit Mosques abroad but in this country they lynch Muslims...They have created Godse army in the country..."

06/10/2023 12:21:17

'There Was A Time When...': MP CM Shivraj's Jibe At Oppn In Bhopal Event

MP CM Shivraj Chouhan inaugurates multiple development projects in Bhopal.

He says, "There was a time when there were just broken roads in the state. There were only 60,000 km roads (in the state). However, I am proud to say that there are 5 lakh km roads in Madhya Pradesh now."

06/10/2023 12:10:42

Assembly Elections: Polls Likely After Diwali, Results By Dec 15. EC To Finalise Plan Today

The Election Commission has prepared a possible plan for elections in five states. Two phases of voting are possible in Chhattisgarh and one phase each in Rajasthan, MP, Mizoram and Telangana.

EC plans to conduct voting in five states after Diwali in November till the second week of December, according to sources.

The counting of votes for the five states may happen before December 15.

After the approval of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and both the Election Commissioners, final approval will be given to the election program and then the announcement will be made. A final decision will be taken after the observers meeting today.

06/10/2023 12:16:47

SC Seeks Response From Centre, MP, Rajasthan Govt And EC On PIL Over Distribution Of Cash And Freebies

Supreme Court issues notice to the Central Government, Madhya Pradesh Government, Rajasthan Government and Election Commission of India on a PIL on alleged distribution of cash and other freebies at the taxpayers' expenses.

Supreme Court asks Centre, States and poll panel to file their responses in four weeks.

06/10/2023 10:32:00

Assembly Elections: Nadda To Address State BJP Council Meet In Telangana, Priyanka Gandhi In Chhattisgarh Today

BJP chief JP Nadda will address the inaugural session of the state party council meet in Telangana today. On the other hand, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will address a rally in Chhattisgarh.