Will the trend of 'revolving door' that has dominated Rajasthan's governance, since 1993, would prevail again and see BJP returning to power in 2023 or will Congress finally break the jinx?

BJP Vs Congress: will Ashok Gehlot turn tide or Rajasthan remain a swinging state? 

Electoral tradition dictates that it would likely be the BJP which will win the polls, but both parties are in the throes of factional feuds making this contest keenly watched. 

Tap to know the key factors that may affect the results - 

Will the trend of 'revolving door' that has dominated Rajasthan's governance, since 1993, would prevail again and see BJP returning to power in 2023 or will Congress finally break the jinx?

Rajasthan, since 1993, has seen the incumbent government failing to hold on to power for a second term. The political musical chair has seen BJP&rsquo;s Vasundhara Raje and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot take turns as chief ministers since 1998.
Electoral tradition dictates that it would likely be the BJP which will win the polls, but both parties are in the throes of factional feuds making this contest keenly watched. The key factors, therefore, are.
- Is it the BJP's turn?&nbsp;
Congress leader Sachin Pilot acknowledged that overcoming the 3-decade-' old &lsquo;revolving door&rsquo; trend will be his party's biggest challenge in the elections. And rightly so, out of the state's 200 seats, as per The Quint, 123 are swing constituencies, meaning seats where the voter trends show no loyalties; these account for 61.5%. &nbsp;
Apart from the Congress and BJP, there are independents and smaller political parties which have a part to play. While 63 seats out of those 123 sway between BJP and Congress, in the other 58, independents and other parties have registered victories in the last 30 years.&nbsp;
- BJP have an edge with &lsquo;double engine ki sarkar&rsquo;?
While the &lsquo;double engine&rsquo; narrative failed in Karnataka, BJP continued to tell the Rajasthan voters about the benefits of the same party rule at the Centre and in the state, promising more development.&nbsp;
By being a BJP-ruled state, collaborations with the Centre would, as per the party, result in more effective governance in Rajasthan where Ashok Gehlot's government has often lamented about not getting the due support from the Centre in the past 5 years.&nbsp;
- Welfare schemes
For chief minister Gehlot, his series of welfare schemes could help him counter the expected anti-incumbency. Through his inflation-relief camps where the eligible beneficiaries can register for the schemes, his government has tried to communicate that these initiatives would counter the situation created by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
-Who will be the next CM?
For Congress, it would be a leadership tussle between Pilot and Gehlot. BJP on the other hand, like in other states is trying to capitalise on Prime Minister Modi's name with no out-and-out CM face in sight. The visible sidelining of the last BJP CM Raje is a noticeable factor for the saffron party to counter. In local and national media coverage, the names of Raje, Satish Poonia and CP Joshi as the contestants for the CM post have been doing rounds.
-Corruption, law &amp; order BJP has been targeting the Congress government over law and order and has promised to &lsquo;expose&rsquo; the infamous &lsquo;red diary&rsquo; which allegedly carries details of the Gehlot government's financial irregularities.&nbsp;
Congress' Pilot too, earlier this year, had accused the government run by his political nemesis of &lsquo;failing&rsquo; to act on corruption that the BJP dispensation had been accused of.
-Strongholds
While the swing constituencies are expected to throw interesting results, the BJP has a clear sway over the remaining seats which could be crucial in determining the winner. &nbsp;
The percentage, as per The Quint, might be small but it is in BJP's favour. 33 out of the 200 seats are strongholds, and BJP dominates on 28 seats. Since 2008, Congress has had a hat-trick in only 5 constituencies. &nbsp;

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether or not a woman can be booked in a rape case

Can women be charged with rape? Supreme Court to examine matter

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether or not a woman can be booked in a rape case

Women are usually the victims of rape but can a woman be booked in a rape case? The Supreme Court has agreed to examine this question after a woman petitioned it for anticipatory bail in a rape case also involving her son.
The apex court has asked the Punjab government to respond to the plea filed by a 61-year-old woman who has been implicated in the case filed by her daughter-in-law.
While agreeing to examine the issue, a bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Karol granted the woman protection from arrest and directed her to cooperate with the investigation.
"Issue notice, returnable in four weeks. In the meantime, the petitioner is protected from arrest. But she is expected to cooperate with the investigation of the crime," the bench said.
At the outset, advocate Rishi Malhotra, who appeared for the woman, argued that all other penal sections in the FIR are bailable barring the charge under Section 376(2)(n) IPC (repeated rape). Conviction under the section entails imprisonment of not less than 10 years and may extend to sentence for life.
Referring to an apex court judgement, Malhotra submitted a woman cannot be charged with rape.
According to the case, the complainant was initially in a long-distance relationship with the US-based elder son of the woman, a widow, but they had never met in person.
The FIR states that the complainant started living with the widow after entering into wedlock with her son at a virtual marriage ceremony.
Later, the younger son of the widow visited them from Portugal. The widow has claimed that after the arrival of her younger son the complainant and her family pressured her to end the informal marriage with her elder son. When the younger son was about to leave for Portugal, the complainant insisted that he take her along but he left alone.
As tension mounted between the two families, a compromise was arrived at and the widow gave the complainant Rs 11 lakh for ending the marriage with her elder son.
The complainant then approached the local police and lodged an FIR against the widow and her younger son, accusing them of rape and other charges.&nbsp;

Amid concerns about the death sentence given to 8 Indians in Qatar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the kingdom's ruler

Indians on death row: PM Modi meets Qatar ruler, discusses 'well-being of the Indian community'

Amid concerns about the death sentence given to 8 Indians in Qatar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the kingdom's ruler

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on Friday, as they discussed bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community in the oil-rich country.
The meeting is significant as eight former Indian Navy personnel were on October 26 given death sentences by a court in Qatar and the Indian government has reportedly filed an appeal against the sentence.
"On the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai yesterday, had the opportunity to meet HH Sheikh @TamimBinHamad, the Amir of Qatar.
"We had a good conversation on the potential of bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar," Modi posted on X on Saturday.
The Indian nationals, who worked with private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year reportedly in an alleged case of espionage. Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public.
India had described the ruling by the court in Qatar as "deeply" shocking and had vowed to explore all legal options in the case. Prime Minister Modi had a hectic schedule on Friday as he addressed four sessions at the UN climate change conference, met various world leaders and also held some bilateral meetings.

PM Modi reacts to selfie will  Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. This is what he said 

PM Modi reacts to selfie will  Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. This is what he said 

The selfie posted by Italian Prime Minister from COP28 with PM Narendra Modi had instantly become viral on social media with users reacting to the 'chemistry' between the two heads of the state.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reacted to a viral selfie his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni took with him on the sidelines of the COP28 meet in Dubai, saying "meeting friends is always a delight".
Meloni had on Friday posted the selfie on X with the remarks, "Good friends at COP28" followed by hashtag 'Melodi', a mix of the two leaders' surnames.
The warm picture of the two leaders smilingly into the camera has gone viral since.

In the contest for 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, BJP&rsquo;s core policy of Hindutava will face a litmus test ahead of the general elections which lay few months ahead. &nbsp;&nbsp;

BJP Vs Congress: Will Kamal Nath crush dominant 'Kamal' factor successfully or Shivraj return again? 

In the contest for 230 assembly seats, BJP’s core policy of Hindutava will face a litmus test ahead of the general elections which lay few months ahead.   

Here are the factors that may determine the success of the 2 parties--

In the contest for 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, BJP&rsquo;s core policy of Hindutava will face a litmus test ahead of the general elections which lay few months ahead. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress were locked in a fierce election battle in the largely bipolar Madhya Pradesh and on December 3 it would be clear if the incumbent Shivraj Singh Chauhan will continue to remain the chief minister of this central Indian state. &nbsp;
The campaign that saw top brass of both the parties taking repeated potshots at each other essentially hinges on anti-incumbency, with Chauhan facing the daunting task of winning an election after remaining at the helm intermittently for 18 years.
In the contest for 230 assembly seats, BJP&rsquo;s core policy of Hindutava will face a litmus test ahead of the general elections which lay few months ahead. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Here are the factors that may determine the success of the 2 parties-- 1- Anti-incumbency Anti-incumbency is the ruling party's biggest concern as BJP has already completed 18 years in the government.&nbsp;
After winning three consecutive polls in 2003, 2008 and 2013, the BJP lost to the Congress in 2018 but a rebellion in the grand old party saw it sliding behind the majority mark, ensuring 15-month Kamal Nath government collapsed in 2020.&nbsp;
2-CM face&nbsp;
Chouhan has remained the face of BJP since 2005, but fielding of central ministers and senior BJP leaders like Narendra Singh Tomar, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Prahlad Patel is been seen as a sign of his waning grip in the state unit. &nbsp;
The Congress, however, has thrown its weight behind Kamal Nath, who in 2018 led the party to power as Congress fell just two short of the magic mark of 116.
3- Hindutava&nbsp;
Chouhan played temple-centric Hindutava card as he spent over Rs 3,000 crore on building, rebuilding or sprucing up temples, including the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, and museums attached to them. Nath countered his rival's strategy by organizing mega religious events in his home turf, Chhindwara, where tens of thousands of devotees participated.&nbsp;
4- The Scindia factor!&nbsp;
A CM aspirant in 2018, Jyotiraditya Scindia and his 22 loyalists pulled the rug from under Nath&rsquo;s feet two years later. But in 2023, the BJP too is facing rumblings in the organisation as many leaders who had sided with Scindia have returned to the Congress.&nbsp;
5- Women voters and welfare schemes Fondly known as 'mama', Chouhan, in a bid to woo the women voters, has announced a slew of schemes with 'Ladli Behna Yojana' being the highlight where financial aid has been hiked from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 a month. As a counter, the Congress has announced to raise the dole to Rs. 1,500 each month. Following the BJP strategic of forming specific policy for the eve voters, the chief minister has also earmarked a whopping Rs 16,000 crore for schemes targeted at women from the financially weaker sections.&nbsp;
Apart from promising to restore 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs, the Congress has assured a caste-based census in MP and support for OBC quota within the Women&rsquo;s Reservation Bill. Priyanka Gandhi, on campaign in the temple state, has also assured other 'guarantees' like the waiver of farm loans, the revival of the old pension scheme and up to 100 units of free electricity&nbsp;
6- Corruption&nbsp;
Congress has launched a strident campaign against alleged corruption, rise in the crime against women, atrocities against Dalits and Tribals, rising inflation and unemployment among other issues.&nbsp;
While the opposition party claimed in Karnataka, BJP took &lsquo;40 per cent&rsquo; commission, in Madhya Pradesh Chauhan was targeted for ensuring a &lsquo;50 per cent&rsquo; cut. The Congress has listed more than 250 &lsquo;major scams&rsquo; during 18-year BJP rule. &nbsp;

Tihar warders, assistant superintendents, matrons among 50 terminated for biometric mismatch

All these employees were on probation period for two years, the official said, adding that they have to respond within one month on the notice.

The Tihar Jail administration has served termination notice to its 50 employees after a verification drive found a mismatch in their biometric identification records, officials said on Saturday.
According to the Tihar Jail administration, among these 50 terminated employees, 39 are warders, 9 are assistant superintendent and 2 are matron.
The notice was served as per the direction of the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSB), which conducted the exams and recruited about 450 applicants to these three posts, officials said.
Of these 450 employees, the biometric identification did not match for 50 of them, due to which the notice of termination has been served to them, they added.
"It is suspected that somebody else had taken their exams," an official said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;All these employees were on probation period for two years, the official said, adding that they have to respond within one month on the notice.
&nbsp;

New Zealand: three Khalistani supporters sentenced for attempted murder of Sikh radio host

Sukhpreet Singh was found guilty of being an accessory, Sarvjeet Sidhu pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Third accused has been given one of the longest possible prison sentences for the crime, as per reports.

In a case of religious fanaticism, three Indian-origin men in New Zealand have been sentenced for the attempted murder of a popular Auckland-based Sikh radio host who was vocal against the ideology of Khalistan.
The attack occurred on December 23, 2020, when Harnek Singh was ambushed by a group of religious extremists in his driveway. He suffered over 40 stab wounds and required more than 350 stitches and multiple surgeries to recover, the Australia Today website reported.
Sukhpreet Singh, 44-year-old, was found guilty of being an accessory, and Sarvjeet Sidhu, 27-year-old, pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
The third man, a 48-year-old Auckland resident, has been given one of the longest possible prison sentences for the crime, the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported.
During a hearing on November 28, a judge noted that community protection and a strong message of deterrence were both necessary for the highly unusual case, it reported.
The third defendant, who continues to have interim name suppression, was not present when the attack occurred. The court was told that he harboured a years-long resentment against Harnek as he was vocal against Khalistan, Australia Today reported.
He planned the &ldquo;hit&rdquo; and used his charismatic influence over others to recruit henchmen to do his bidding, the judge said.
&ldquo;It bears all the hallmarks of religious fanaticism,&rdquo; Woolford said of the motivation for the attack. &ldquo;Violence of this kind is committed to what is perceived as the furtherance of the greater good..." &ldquo;Sentencing in this context requires a different approach. The emphasis must be placed on protecting the community from further violence and it is essential to send a strong message of deterrence to others.&rdquo; A sentence of 13-and-a-half years was imposed, with a minimum period of imprisonment of nine years before he can begin applying for parole, the Herald reported.
The maximum sentence for attempted murder is 14 years. The only reason the defendant did not receive the full maximum sentence was that he deserved a six-month credit for the time he spent on electronically monitored bail while awaiting his lengthy trial in September and October, the judge said.
Harnek did not attend the hearing but wrote a victim impact statement that was read aloud by prosecutors.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/world-news/south-korea-launches-first-spy-satellite-days-after-north-korea-does-the-same-1701487010264">Also watch: South Korea launches first spy satellite days after North Korea does the same</a> &nbsp;
&ldquo;My family faces fear each day when the sun goes down,&rdquo; he said.
Addressing the defendants directly, he said: &ldquo;You came to kill me. ...You tried to silence me. You wanted to send a chilling message to all those who express their disagreement with your unorthodox religious views. But you failed. ...I will continue to express my opinions and beliefs as I always have."

Delhi excise policy case: ED files supplementary chargesheet against AAP's Sanjay Singh

Delhi excise policy case: ED files supplementary chargesheet against AAP's Sanjay Singh

The Enforcement Directorate has filed a supplementary chargesheet against AAP MP Sanjay Singh in connection with a money laundering probe related to the Delhi excise policy case.
Singh is currently lodged in Tihar jail after ED arrested him on October 4, alleging that he is a key conspirator in the Delhi excise policy.
The anti-money laundering probe agency has accused him of receiving Rs. 2 crore bribe through his aides from accused-turned-approver Dinesh Arora.&nbsp;

42 people booked under unlawful religious conversation law in Uttar Pradesh

Based on a complaint, an FIR was registered against 42 people under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act on 30th November 2023. Nine of the accused were later arrested.

The Uttar Pradesh Police has booked 42 people and arrested nine of them for allegedly luring the poor and tribal people to convert to Christianity through fraudulent means in Sonbhadra district, an officer said on Friday.
A large quantity of religious books, propaganda materials and laptops were recovered from the arrested accused. Additional Superintendent of Police Kalu Singh said Narsingh, a resident of Malhiya Tola in the Chopan police station area of the district, lodged a complaint that some people were luring tribal people and the poor to convert to Christianity using fraudulent means.
Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against 42 people under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act on Thursday.
Thereafter, nine of the accused were arrested.
The arrested accused included Jaiprabhu of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Ajay Kumar of Robertsganj in Uttar Pradesh and Chekka Emmanuel of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
The remaining arrested accused were identified as Rajendra Kol, Chhotu alias Ranjan, Parmanand, Sohan, Prem Nath Prajapati and Ram Pratap.

First visuals: Uttarkashi tunnel collapse caught on camera

Editorji cannot verify the authenticity of the video clip.&nbsp;

An unverified video of Uttarkashi tunnel collapse purportedly captured by one of the trapped workers on the day of the collapse is circulating on social media.
The footage shows debris falling, obstructing the tunnel.
One of the workers urging his team mates to move towards a safer area can also be heard.&nbsp;
41 men trapped in a collapsed tunnel for 17 days were rescued on November 28.

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#AllegedKhalistanimurderplot

PM Modi held high-level meeting with Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval amod concerns following drone attack on J&K Air Force station

PM holds meeting with Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Ajit Doval

PM Modi&nbsp;held high-level meeting&nbsp;with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval&nbsp;amid concerns following drone attacks at J&amp;K Air Force station.

Amid security concerns PM holds meeting with Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval

PM's high level meeting with Amit&nbsp;Shah, Rajnath&nbsp;Singh&nbsp;&amp; Ajit&nbsp;Doval
Meeting held after Sunday's drone attack on Air Force station in J&amp;K
Security concerns rising following the&nbsp;drone attack at Air Force station
Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba&nbsp;suspected to be behind the drone attack
&nbsp;
J&amp;K DGP Dilbag Singh has said that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit is suspected to be behind the drone attack. //PM Modi&nbsp;chairs high-level meeting amid concerns following drone attacks in J&amp;K //PM holds meeting with Home Minister, Def Minister &amp; National Security Advisor //Major security concern after drone attack at Jammu Air Force station //J&amp;K DGP said Pak-based Lashkar-e-Taiba suspected to be behind attack&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at a time when security concerns are rising following the&nbsp;drone attack at Air Force station.
The meeting is being held a day after Rajnath Singh concluded his two-day visit to Ladakh.
In a major security concern, a drone attack was carried out on the Jammu Air Force station in the early hours of Sunday. Explosives were dropped on the IAF station in Jammu by two drones. The case has been handed over to the NIA.
J&amp;K DGP Dilbag Singh has said that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit is suspected to be behind the drone attack.

Leopard spotted in Delhi, social media videos show big cat jumping from wall

Leopard spotted in Delhi, social media videos show big cat jumping from wall

A leopard has been spotted in Delhi's Sainik Farm area, a forest department official said on Saturday.
Two trap cages have been set up to capture the big cat, the official added.
According to Subodh Kumar, a beat officer from the forest department (Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary), two teams of the department have been deployed.
"We got a call about a leopard that was spotted at night. With the help of the local police, we conducted a search at 9.30 am and spotted the animal near a farmhouse," Kumar said.
It is a full-grown leopard weighing about 80 to 90 kg, he added. The forest department has set up two trap cages and instructed people not to gather near those, a police official said.
Two video clips of the feline have surfaced on the social media, in which the animal could be seen loitering near a farmhouse. In one of the videos, a policeman is seen running, before the leopard jumped from a wall and ran into the jungle.
At least 40 personnel from the forest department and Delhi Police have been deployed in the area, an official said.
"We are alerting the people in the vicinity to remain alert and careful. Sharing the contact of forest officials to inform in case the leopard is seen by anyone," the official said.
In the evening, the Neb Sarai police station staff made public announcements requesting the people to stay inside their homes.&nbsp;
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/elections/assembly-elections-2023-counting-day-today-as-bjp-congress-face-crucial-test-ahead-of-2024-1701566435450">Assembly elections 2023: counting day today as BJP, Congress face crucial test ahead of 2024</a>

The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these 3 states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.

Assembly elections 2023: Congress workers hold early celebrations, burst crackers

The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.

The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these 3 states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.

Congress workers held early celebrations in anticipation of the party's win in the assembly elections held recently. The counting of votes will be held today but Congress workers started bursting crackers even before the break of dawn on December 3.&nbsp;
The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.
Pollsters have been divided on the outcome, with quite a few exit polls putting the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and giving it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that Congress has an advantage in Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
After wresting Karnataka from the BJP in May, the Congress is eyeing Madhya Pradesh and Telangana and is hoping to retain power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. An impressive performance in these polls will boost the party's standing in the opposition INDIA alliance which has been formed to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP is seeking to replicate the winning streak of Gujarat, where it has been ruling since 1998, in Madhya Pradesh with four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hoping to form government again. The party is also keen to win back Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as it seeks to regain its hold in the Hindi heartland states ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
(with PTI inputs)

Congress and BJP face a crucial test as counting of votes for assembly elections held in 4 states will be done today

Assembly elections 2023: counting day today as BJP, Congress face crucial test ahead of 2024

Congress and BJP face a crucial test as counting of votes for assembly elections held in 4 states will be done today

Counting of votes will be held on Sunday in assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana in what is seen as a semi-final contest ahead of the general elections in less than six months.
The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.
Pollsters have been divided on the outcome, with quite a few exit polls putting the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and giving it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that Congress has an advantage in Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
Starting with postal ballots, counting will commence at 8 am amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan as polling on one seat in the desert state was put off due to the death of a candidate. In Mizoram, counting will be held on Monday A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, election officials said.
After wresting Karnataka from the BJP in May, the Congress is eyeing Madhya Pradesh and Telangana and is hoping to retain power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. An impressive performance in these polls will boost the party's standing in the opposition INDIA alliance which has been formed to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP is seeking to replicate the winning streak of Gujarat, where it has been ruling since 1998, in Madhya Pradesh with four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hoping to form government again. The party is also keen to win back Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as it seeks to regain its hold in the Hindi heartland states ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
"The face of the Congress has been exposed. Only the results are to come tomorrow. The good governance that the public wanted will be found under the BJP government," Union minister Anurag Thakur said in Jaipur, adding that the people want the "double-engine" government of the BJP.
Congress leaders claimed that the party will win in all four states.
"I am certain that we (Congress) will form a government in four states, including Rajasthan, and in Mizoram, a combined government will be established," Congress leader Promod Tiwari said on the eve of counting of votes.
With several pollsters predicting a close fight, there were reports claiming that parties have decided to herd their winning candidates swiftly to prevent any poaching and were also reaching out to independents, rebel candidates and smaller parties.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, however, dismissed reports that he has been asked to bring winning Congress candidates from the states to resorts and hotels in Karnataka.
"No MLAs will be going anywhere. Nobody has given me a responsibility or called me. ... I am confident that we will win all the states," Shivakumar, who had made similar arrangements to bring 44 Gujarat legislators during the August 2017 Rajya Sabha elections, told reporters in Bengaluru.
Congress leaders in Telangana alleged that the BRS was trying to approach its candidates.
***Madhya Pradesh**** The counting for 230 assembly seats in MP will be held at 52 district headquarters, officials said.
As many as 2,533 candidates are in the fray, including political bigwigs like Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath, in a poll that was largely a bipolar battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.
Chouhan claimed his party would retain power with a &ldquo;huge majority&rdquo;, while state Congress chief Kamal Nath said he had &ldquo;complete confidence&rdquo; in the voters of the state.
Of the 230 seats, 47 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and 35 for Scheduled Castes.
Besides CM Chouhan (from Budhni seat) and state Congress president Nath (Chhindwara), the EVMs will also decide the fate of three BJP Union ministers &ndash; Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste.
It will also decide the political fortunes of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywrgiya who contested from Indore-1 and three Lok Sabha MPs of the saffron party &ndash; Rakesh Singh, Ganesh Singh and Riti Pathak.
***Rajasthan*** Counting of votes polled in the November 25 assembly elections in Rajasthan will be done at 36 centres in the state on Sunday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Praveen Gupta said.
Over 1800 candidates are in the fray in 199 seats in Rajasthan where power has alternated between Congress and BJP every five years in the last three decades.
While 30 election districts have one counting centre, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Nagaur have two centres each, Gupta said. Election in Karanpur was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
&ldquo;The counting of ballot papers will start at 8 pm. As many as 979 tables have been arranged for the counting of ballot papers across the state. Strong rooms will be opened in the presence of observers, candidates and their representatives,&rdquo; Gupta said.
Gupta said that the counting of votes in EVM machines will begin at 8.30 am.
***Chhattisgarh*** Tight security arrangements have been made in all counting centres in the state's 33 districts, including the ones affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), officials said.
"A total of 90 returning officers, 416 assistant returning officers, 4596 counting personnel and 1698 micro-observers have been appointed for carrying out the counting process smoothly," Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Baba Saheb Kangale said at a press conference.
As many as 1,181 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo (both from Congress) and former CM Raman Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Patan seat, represented by Baghel, is witnessing a triangular contest with BJP fielding the chief minister's distant nephew and Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel.
Amit Jogi, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) state president and son of former CM late Ajit Jogi, is also in the fray from Patan. ___ "We have conducted our own assessment, and we are very confident that the Congress will form a government with a comfortable majority," Deputy CM TS Singh Deo said.
***Telangana**** As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray in the elections, including BRS supremo Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao.
The BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI. The BJP and Janasena contested 111 and 8 seats respectively in a pre-poll pact/ The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.
Several segments witnessed triangular contests making them keenly watched ones.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is contesting from two segments-Gajwel and Kamareddy.
In a post on X, BRS working president K T Rama Rao had earlier said, &ldquo;After a long time had a peaceful sleep. Exit polls can take a hike. Exact polls will give us good news.&rdquo; Dismissing some exit-poll surveys that suggested that the ruling BRS would fall short of a majority in the Assembly polls, Rama Rao had said the Chandrasekhar Rao-led dispensation will return to power with over 70 seats.&nbsp;
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/elections/mp-assembly-election/bjp-vs-congress-will-kamal-nath-crush-dominant-kamal-factor-successfully-or-shivraj-return-again-1701531206226">BJP Vs Congress: Will Kamal Nath crush dominant 'Kamal' factor successfully or Shivraj return again?</a>

While the battle is largely bipolar, the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is in the mix and is set to make the election for 119 seats interesting

 Telangana Election 2023: will Congress and BJP spoil KCR's attempt at returning for third time 

While the battle is largely bipolar, the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen is in the mix and is set to make the election for 119 seats interesting.

Exit poll predictions have laid the fight bare in the southern state of Telangana with a resurgent Congress predicted to take the regional and ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi head-on. While the battle is largely bipolar, the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is in the mix and is set to make the election for 119 seats interesting. If any of the two main parties fall short of the majority 60-seat mark, the saffron party and the political outfit based in Hyderabad could play the kingmaker. The following factors are likely affect the result.
1-Anti incumbency Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is aiming for a hat-trick of electoral victories after winning the polls in 2014&mdash; in united Andhra Pradesh&mdash; and in Telangana in 2018.&nbsp;
Initially thought to be a one-sided fight, the Congress which had witnessed waning of its foot-hood in the state, has sprung a surprise and by the end of campaign is being seen as a serious contender. In 2014, despite splitting Andhra Pradesh in to two states, the grand old party saw its fortunes fade in the 2018 assembly elections. In 2014, the BRS (then Telangana Rashtriya Samiti), had swept the election, riding on the agitation for the state hood led by Rao.
2- Bipolar contest but scope for BJP? The BJP may have unleashed its top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the campaign but on the ground the fight remains bipolar.
While BRS is keen on extending its winning run, the Congress has put up a spirited fight to win the polls in the newest state of India. Any of the two main contestants falling short of majority means that BJP and AIMIM could come into play.&nbsp;
The ruling party won 88 seats in 2018 elections and is confident of victory this year. BRS named 115 out of 119 incumbent candidates in August to give a head-start to their campaigning. 3-Muslim Votes&nbsp;
Telangana's Muslim population holds the key for at least 45 of 119 assembly constituencies. The minority group has the potential to sway the election results either in favour of Congress or the BRS or bring it down to a neck to neck fight between the two.&nbsp;
While the Congress has been making an all-out effort to lure Muslims, but with Assad-ud-din Owaisi&rsquo;s AIMIM backing BRS, the possibility of Muslim vote getting divided remains.
The BJP has announced that it would remove the 4% reservation being given to Muslims, thus setting clear focus on the division of Hindu voters between the BRS, the Congress and the saffron group. &nbsp;
4-Corruption &amp; &lsquo;BJP-BRS BHAI BHAI&rsquo; The Congress has kept a focused attack to create a narrative that BRS and the BJP were hand in glove when it came to what it called rampant corruption. Political analysts feel that with KCR meeting Modi and the Congress narrative to claim bonhomie between the BRS and the BJP may hurt Rao&rsquo;s poll prospects.
The ruling party has faced accusations that it overlooked the TSPSC (Telangana State Public Service Commission) paper leak and rampant unemployment. With central agencies probing chief minister Rao&rsquo;s daughter, K Kavitha, in the allegedly Delhi excise scam case, the narrative of being a corrupt party has stuck. The Congress has claimed that Enforcement Directorate went soft on her as the two parties have reached a compromise.&nbsp;
5-Resurgent Congress The resounding victory of the Congress in the Karnataka Assembly polls has changed the political narrative for the grand old party in neighbouring Telangana.&nbsp;
Though it managed only 19 seats in the last elections, the Congress has become a clear challenger to the BRS this time round.
After successfully wooing the Karnataka voters with their 5 guarantees, Congress has promised 6 guarantees to Telangana. (GFX - Rythu Bharosa, Cheyutha, Yuva Vikasam, Gruha Jyoti, Mahalaxmi Guarantee, Indiramma Indlu) The promises on the lines of 'guarantees' being fulfilled in neighbouring Karnataka appear to prove advantageous.&nbsp;
6-Kamareddy &amp; Gajwel segment&nbsp;
KCR, who represents Gajwel in the assembly, is fighting the elections from two segments &ndash; Gajwel and Kamareddy&mdash; in 2023. &nbsp;Both constituencies are witnessing exciting contests. While Congress has fielded its state president Revanth Reddy to take on the chief minister in Kamareddy, BJP has fielded Katipally Venkata Ramana Reddy. The Congress has claimed that CM fighting from two seats is an admission of defeat before the fight began. &nbsp;

In 2018, Congress, who rode the strong anti-incumbency wave to throw the BJP out, which had ruled the state for 15 years look to retain the state on the back of pro-farmer, pro-tribal and pro-poor schemes.

Chhattisgarh election 2023: Bhupesh Baghel's good governance test, will he pass or fail? 

From his popularity to his support for OBCs, tap to know why Bhupesh Baghel could possibly return to power in Chhattisgarh 



The exit polls have given a clear advantage to the Congress as the incumbent CM Bhupesh Baghel has promised a slew of pro-people steps if he returns to power. But if the predictions come true the Congress would have to find a plan to accomodate TS Deo.&nbsp;

Chhattisgarh will witness a 2-cornered contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress for the 90-seat assembly.
In 2018, Congress rode the strong anti-incumbency wave to throw BJP out who had ruled the state for 15 years.
The grand old party currently holds 71 seats in the state assembly and is aiming to better its tally by winning 75 seats in the upcoming elections on the back of pro-farmer, pro-tribal and pro-poor schemes. Here are the factors that might decide who wins the state&nbsp;
- Baghel's popularity&nbsp;
While BJP has been banking on the Modi factor in state elections, chief minister Baghel's popularity in Chhattisgarh might give Congress an extra edge. &nbsp;
Baghel, who has developed his image as the son of the soil, has a significant hold over Other Backward Classes and rural voters. This might hurt the BJP as it tries to make a comeback after facing defeat in the last election. - Hindutva&nbsp;
BJP stuck to their Hindutva narrative in Chattisgarh too as they highlighted the incidents of communal violence under the present Congress regime and alleged religious conversions in tribal-dominated areas.&nbsp;
Baghel, on the other hand, successfully countered BJP's long-used political rhetoric of cows and Lord Ram with the Godhan Nyay Yojana and Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit projects - OBC reservation&nbsp;
OBCs make up 52% of the state's population and have been demanding a 27% quota.&nbsp;
The issue became a matter of concern for the ruling Congress when the Chhattisgarh High Court last year set aside a 2011 order that raised the overall quota in the state to 58% since it breached the 50% reservation ceiling limit. Baghel's government challenged the High Court decision in the Supreme Court and enacted amendments under which the STs were given 32%, OBCs 27%, &amp; SCs 13%.&nbsp;
While the 2 bills are awaiting the governor's assent, the Supreme Court had directed the government in May to continue to implement 58% reservation. - BJP lacking leadership in the state In the last 5 years where Congress has strengthened its organisational set-up, the BJP have struggled to put their house in order. Since the 2018 assembly polls, the party has&nbsp;
changed its state chief thrice and also changed its leader of opposition in 2022. The saffron party has also virtually sidelined Raman Singh, whose last tenure as CM between 2013 and 2018 was rocked by alleged civil supplies scam and chit fund scam.&nbsp;
- Corruption&nbsp;
Congress government is facing allegations of corruption in coal transportation, liquor sale, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund utilisation and Public Service Commission recruitment in the state.&nbsp;
The Enforcement Directorate is also investigating a money laundering case related to an illegal online gaming/betting app. Several Bollywood celebrities were summoned by ED in connection with the Mahadev betting scam case that has marred the reputation of Baghel's government.&nbsp;
Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda accused Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of turning Chhattisgarh into an &lsquo;ATM&rsquo; for the Congress. - Welfare&nbsp;
Three flagship pro-farmer schemes have helped the Congress consolidate its position in the rural and semi-urban areas. They have promised welfare schemes worth Rs 47000 crores for the farmers. Meanwhile, the BJP has announced schemes amounting to Rs 38,000 for the welfare of the state&rsquo;s farmers.&nbsp;

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