Sanjay Raut confident of INDIA alliance winning all upcoming 5 state assembly polls

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Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut Monday expressed optimism that the INDIA alliance would emerge victorious in all five states where the Election Commission is set to announce the election dates.

Addressing a press conference Raut stated, "In three of these states, Congress had secured victories five years ago. However, this time around, the INDIA alliance is poised to win in all of them, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Even in Telangana, we anticipate a victory for the Congress. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is unlikely to secure more than 10 seats in Telangana."

Nevertheless, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP raised concerns about the Election Commission's delay in announcing the dates for the Mumbai Mahanagar Palika elections in Maharashtra over the past two years. He also pointed out that 14 Mahanagar Palika elections in the state have been postponed, accusing the authorities of engaging in corrupt practices through the Administrator. Raut demanded clarity on when these elections would be held.

On the subject of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Raut emphasized the importance of remembering India's historical stance. He highlighted India's recognition of Palestine and the strong relationship between Yasser Arafat, the former Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Raut urged that this historical context should not be forgotten.

Regarding Devendra Fadnavis's visit to Delhi, Raut commented, "The Shinde group appears to believe that Devendra ji has acquired the capability to take on greater responsibilities in Delhi. There are several significant issues in Delhi, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, the situation in Manipur, and the concerns of Kashmiri pandits. It is possible that Amit Shah and Narendra Modi have encountered challenges, leading them to invite Devendra Fadnavis to take on a more prominent role."

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Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) of India Monday announced dates for the forthcoming assembly elections in five states, outlining the schedule for voting and vote counting.

In Chhattisgarh, the assembly polls will be conducted in two phases, with voting scheduled for November 7 and November 17, as per the EC's announcement. This phased approach aims to facilitate a smooth and organized electoral process, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar announced while addressing a press conference in the national capital, New Delhi.

Kumar said that Madhya Pradesh will see voting for its assembly elections on November 17; Rajasthan, with its 200 assembly seats, is set to conduct voting on November 23; Telangana will head to the polls on November 30 to select its assembly representatives, with the Election Commission ensuring a timely and efficient election.

Mizoram, Kumar said, will hold its assembly elections on November 7, followed by the counting of votes on December 3, marking the conclusion of the electoral process in the state. (With inputs from agencies)