INDIA
Exit polls suggested a Congress victory is likely in Rajasthan, where the party is expected to win above 100 seats in a 199-seat Assembly.
Hectic political parleys marked the eve of counting of votes for five state Assemblies, billed as the semi-finals before the 2019 national polls, with Congress asserting that the mandate from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram on Tuesday would send a "clear message" against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
Rejecting the exit-poll results, most of which have forecast gains for Congress in at least four states, including a clear majority in Rajasthan, BJP leaders said final results should be awaited, while also seeking to de-link state polls from next year's Lok Sabha elections.
In Rajasthan, considered the Congress' best chance of returning to power, the party has avoided naming a chief ministerial candidate, to ensure the faction-ridden state leadership remains united.
Senior leaders, including Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, returned to Jaipur after marathon meetings in New Delhi with the party leadership. Besides Pilot and Gehlot, leader of the opposition Rameshwar Dudi was also summoned to Delhi for consultation on chief ministerial candidate.
BJP leaders, meanwhile, fanned out in different districts of the state. "The party has assigned a district to a senior leader who will monitor counting in their areas along with booth-level workers," BJP state president Madan Lal Sinai said.
In Telangana, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi met interim chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao to extend his support and said he was sure about the ruling TRS coming back to power, while the BJP also hinted at its possible support.
The Congress-led alliance, however, appeared upbeat that it would get the mandate to dislodge TRS and form the next government. It also told Governor ESL Narasimhan that it should be treated as a single entity in the event of no party getting a clear majority.
In Madhya Pradesh, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath exuded confidence that his party would get at least 140 seats and form a majority government.
Exit polls have mostly forecast a tight-race between the ruling BJP and Congress in Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring Chhattisgarh, while many of them have also given a clear majority to Congress against the ruling BJP in Rajasthan.
For Telangana, exit polls have been divided between the TRS and the Congress-led Opposition alliance. Same is also the case in Mizoram where the ruling Congress is being challenged by its arch-rival in the state, Mizo National Front, while the BJP is also separately in the fray.
Over 8,500 candidates were in the fray for these assemblies and their electoral fate is currently sealed in over 1.74 lakh EVMs stored in over 670 strongrooms across the five states. A total of 678 Assembly seats across five states went for polls, after polling was countermanded in one seat in Rajasthan due to the death of a candidate.
Viral video: Thar SUV gets stuck on railway track after man tries to shoot reel, watch here
Elon Musk's new X post claims Putin must not be blamed for Russia-Ukraine war, instead names…
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi reveals 'Mom used chilli powder in my...'
My experiences with dating apps
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals how company got its name, says 'we wanted…'
Key Differences Between the Indian Stock Market and Global Indices
Stock prices vs company valuation: Is your stock worth it?
Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's show after five years, but there's a twist
Mukesh Ambani set to invest Rs 65000 crore in THIS state, Reliance's biggest...
Mohammed Shami to return to competitive cricket; star pacer set to play for…
Makoons World School brings a new approach to K-12 education across India
Pakistan Cricket looking to take BIG step on Champions Trophy issue, planning to...
Did Isha Ambani lend Neetu Kapoor her Navratna necklace? Reddit users react
J-K: Gunfight underway between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora
Viral video shows women as 'live mannequins' in mall, sparks fury; WATCH
As Vistara bids goodbye, Air India-Vistara's first flight takes off from Mumbai to...
GATE 2025 Schedule: Exams to begin from February 1; Check full timetable here
CBSE announces BIG changes in Class 10,12 board exams 2025, know details here
Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra dies at 86
Isha Ambani graces Diwali party as she walks with her twins, husband, WATCH
Donald Trump plans to pick Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State: Report
Vadodara IOCL refinery fire: Death toll rises to 2; probe underway
Shah Rukh Khan death threat: Mumbai police arrest accused from Chhattisgarh's Raipur
Delhi reports record high chikungunya, malaria cases in 5 years
Japan's Nara deer's polite bow to Indian woman leaves netizens in awe, WATCH
Meet MS Dhoni’s sister Jayanti Gupta who works as teacher, is married CSK star's...
Pakistani TikTok star Minhal Malik's popularity soars in India, sees unprecedented 100-time surge
Seo Hyun Jin dramatically apologises to BTS ARMY, says 'I know a lot of...'
Amid threats of violent protests, Brampton Triveni temple cancels event
Mike Waltz, India caucus head, named Donald Trump's National Security Advisor
Mukesh Khanna returns as Shaktimaan, 90s kids dance with joy
This Indian man owns a train, he's not Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, has net worth of...
SSC CHSL Exam 2024 admit cards to be released today at ssc.gov.in; get direct link here
‘He will play his last game in…’: CSK CEO provides massive update on MS Dhoni’s IPL future
DNA TV Show: Why thousands of aspirants protested against UPPSC in Prayagraj
Girl dances to Shraddha Kapoor's hit Stree 2 song in adorable viral video, 'Kheton me...'
Rashid Khan narrowly escapes serious head injury during AFG vs BAN, WATCH viral video
Who is IAS K Gopalakrishnan, suspended for violation of discipline amid WhatsApp group controversy?
Amid linkup rumours with Abhishek Bachchan, Nimrat Kaur shares cryptic note: 'Our journey is...'
Champions Trophy: PCB to seek clarity from ICC after BCCI refuses to send Indian team to Pakistan
JEE Main 2025 preparation: IIT Kanpur launches FREE 45-day online course; check details
KL Rahul breaks silence on LSG exit in IPL, says, ‘I wanted to go…’
Khushi Kapoor wears bracelet with rumoured boyfriend Vedang Raina's name, see viral photo
Meet man who leads Rs 243890 crore company, lost Rs 21735 crore in one day after...
IND vs SA: Varun Chakravarthy takes 5-wicket-haul but enters THIS unwanted record in 2nd T20I
Apart from Mela, Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai also danced together during world tour
Sustainability Takes Center Stage in US Manufacturing with Leader Viralsinh Solanki at the Forefront