Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018: Soon after the Election Commission on Saturday evening announced schedule of the much-awaited Assembly elections in as many as five states of the country, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set for polls in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking to news agency ANI, Pradhan said, “BJP is prepared for the polls in #MadhyaPradesh, whenever it may happen. Under the leadership of Modi ji, Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be the CM again.” Pradhan was recently fielded as party’s election in-charge in Madhya Pradesh. Apart from Pradhan, other party’s stalwarts including JP Nadda and Prakash Javadekar has been appointed as in-charge for Telangana and Rajasthan respectively. These three ministers have handled Assembly election campaigns for the BJP in the past and the party is banking on their experience to give an impetus to campaigns in these states. BJP has also appointed various party spokesperson and panellits including Sudhanshu Trivedi, Sambhit Patra, BS Shastri and Sanjay Mayukh.
EC Commissioner OP Rawat on Saturday conducted a media briefing to announce Assembly election dates in states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chattisgarh and Mizoram. Voting to elect new Assemblies in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram would be held on November 28 and the counting of votes would take place on December 11. Assembly elections in Rajasthan and Telangana, which will go to the polls in a single phase, will happen on December 7. Counting of votes for these states will also take place on December 11.
There will be a two-phase poll dates for the 90 seats of the Chhattisgarh Assembly on November 12 and November 20, said the EC keeping the counting date same. Speaking about the same CEC said, "In the first phase, 18 constituencies of the southern part of the state, which are Naxal affected areas, the elections would be held on November 12. Voting for the rest of the 72 Assembly constituencies would take place on November 20."
