The Week Ahead is going to feature the first direct electoral battle between the BJP and the "united" Opposition as they head to the Ghosi Assembly bypoll. The week is also likely to see the Congress release its first list of candidates for the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. The I.N.D.I.A bloc, meanwhile, will meet this week again to plan for the special session of the Parliament convened by the government.


Stay with ABP Live as we try to cut the clutter around the latest news from the political arena and help you understand what is likely to happen in The Week Ahead. Here are the biggest political developments expected to play out this week.


Ghosi Bypolls Litmus Test For BJP, I.N.D.I.A Ahead Of 2024 Lok Sabha Polls


The stage will be set for the Lok Sabha polls next year as the I.N.D.I.A bloc goes up directly against the BJP for the first time in an electoral battle in the Ghosi Assembly bypoll in Uttar Pradesh on September 5. While the nation is yet to see the Opposition come to an agreement at the state level (or the national level), the Ghosi bypoll may just prove to be the point when the Opposition parties agree on something.


The Ghosi bypoll will see a tough fight between BJP's sitting MLA Dara Singh Chauhan and SP's Sudhakar Singh, who is being supported by the Congress and the Left. AAP is also reportedly supporting Singh's candidature. Chauhan had contested the seat in 2022 on an SP ticket and won against  BJP's Vijay Kumar Rajbhar. With Chauhan now in BJP, it has become a prestige battle. The results will be declared on September 8.


Opposition's Strategy Meet Ahead Of Parliament's Special Session


Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Congress, the largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, has convened a meeting of the I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders to plan a strategy ahead of the Parliament special session.
The ruling BJP is likely to introduce a bill on the idea of 'one nation, one election' at the special session. On Sunday, Kharge said that the "idea has been extensively examined and rejected by three Committees in the past". "Without undermining the wisdom of any individual, is the proposed committee best suited to deliberate and decide on perhaps the most drastic disruption in the Indian electoral process? Should this huge exercise unilaterally be undertaken without consulting the political parties at the National level and at the State level," he asked in an X post.


Telangana Congress To Send Report For Election Candidates Selection To Screening Panel


The Telangana unit of the Congress will send its report on the applications of probable candidates for the upcoming elections to the screening committee. The panel is being led by K Muralidharan and Baba Siddique and Jignesh Mevani are its members.


The committee will deliberate and shortlist names of candidates and is likely to send the final list to the party high command for approval by September. The first list of candidates is likely to feature members of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and Other Backward Classes. The first list may feature 35-40 names.


Congress To Declare First List In Chhattisgarh


Following Rahul Gandhi's visit to Chhattisgarh last week, the Congress screening committee's meeting is likely to be held on September 4. As the BJP released its list of candidates last month, the Congress is also looking to announce it first list this week.


According to various sources, the party is selecting candidates based on their track records and winnability. The Congress has set a target of winning 70 of the 90 seats.


Congress To Revive Bharat Jodo Yatra


Congress will launch its "Bharat Jodo Yatra" across all districts in the country on September 7, marking the first anniversary of the original "Bharat Jodo Yatra." The Congress has not yet disclosed specific details about the event. The planning for the second phase of the "Bharat Jodo Yatra" began back in July. According to Nana Patole, the Chief of Maharashtra Congress, this leg will commence in Gujarat and conclude in Meghalaya.


Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said he wanted to hold a Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ladakh as well.


In the initial phase of the yatra, Rahul Gandhi embarked on an extensive journey across various states, engaging with citizens from diverse backgrounds and addressing their concerns. The "Bharat Jodo Yatra," which originally commenced in Kanyakumari on September 7 last year, was spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi.


The yatra concluded on January 30 in Srinagar, having covered an impressive 3,970 kilometers, passing through 12 states and two Union Territories, spanning over 130 days.


EC To Take Stock Of Poll Preparedness In Madhya Pradesh


A team from the Election Commission is scheduled to visit Bhopal from September 4 to 6 to tapreparation for upcoming assembly elections in five states, including Madhya Pradesh. The commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and consisting of Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel, has already conducted assessments of poll readiness in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. It is customary for the commission, composed of the CEC and two election commissioners, to visit states slated for elections before announcing the official election schedule.


The assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Mizoram, and Rajasthan are slated to take place in the months of October and November. The term of the Mizoram Assembly ends on December 17, with the Mizo National Front currently in power in the northeastern state. The EC has made visits to the other poll-bound states.


Stay tuned to ABP Live as we track the updates on these stories and more.


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