Options Open

In the wake of the exit poll results, the Congress is keeping all its options open in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. As far as ...

In the wake of the exit poll results, the Congress is keeping all its options open in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

As far as Madhya Pradesh is concerned, the party does admit the going won’t be all that easy in Madhya Pradesh either. In case of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the Congress argues that whenever exit polls show a hung Assembly, the advantage of error goes to the ruling party, in both the cases, the Congress.

	Homeguards go hungry

	KOLKATA: Altogether 400 homeguards from West Bengal on election duty in Chhattisgarh were denied food and shelter in that state, the state Assembly was informed on Tuesday. The state’s Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Mukherjee told the House that the homeguards were rushed from here to Chhattisgarh on November 22 on request for deployment on election duty. (Agencies)

Senior party leaders like Ambika Soni are still in Rajasthan preparing for a scenario where it wins at least 100 seats out of the total 200 in the state. The party is mainly looking at the number of Independents who come out winning and could join the party in government-formation.

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AICC leaders also point out that in Rajasthan, most of the party’s internal surveys had predicted a close fight with the BJP.

However, the good monsoons was thought to have brought in a ‘‘feel good factor,’’ giving a slight lead to the Congress.

On the other hand, state leaders point out that the infighting during the ticket-distribution may have taken away the edge from the Congress.

In Madhya Pradesh, even before the party had picked its candidates, there were clear indications of a ‘‘tacit understanding’’ with the BSP.

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The increasing proximity of the BSP to the Congress even led to the souring of relationships between Mulayam Singh’s Samajwadi Party and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress, while a little apprehensive of a victory there, is counting on Chief Minister Digvijay Singh’s assurance that ‘‘we will form government once again.’’

With the party’s expectations very low, all eyes are set on how many seats the BSP manages to get, especially in the Chambal-Gwarlior-Morena belt in the state which has about 34 seats.

It is in Chhattisgarh that the party high command in Delhi might have to take some concrete decision, especially in case the NCP rounds up about 10 seats.

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According to senior AICC leaders, a tie-up with the NCP may mean a change of leadership in the state. But the Congress high command seems to be keen on keeping the NCP from joining the BJP in the state.



	Repoll in 172 booths in three states NEW DELHI: Repoll will be held on Wednesday in as many as 172 polling stations spread over three states of Chhattisgarh, MP and Rajasthan where Monday’s polling was disrupted due to booth capturing and damaging of EVMs. Repoll would be conducted in 68 polling stations in Chhattisgarh followed by 63 in Madhya Pradesh and 41 in Rajasthan, the Election Commission announced on Tuesday. Over 70 pc polling in Chhattisgarh RAIPUR: Over 70 per cent of the electorate in Chhattisgarh exercised their franchise in Monday’s Assembly polls, the State Election Office said on Tuesday. However, the turnout was very low in the Naxalite- infested Dantewada district, which registered 38 per cent polling. 41 in the fray trying a hat trick in MP BHOPAL: As many as 41 candidates are aspiring for hattrick in the Assembly polls in MP. A total of 25 aspirants are seeking re-election for the fourth consecutive time, while 12 are in the field to seek their fifth term as MLA. Two legislators have toiled it out for the sixth time and one for the seventh time. Leader of the Opposition Babulal Gaur, if elected, would be entering the house for an eighth time. Story continues below this ad Cong workers ransack collectorate JAIPUR: Alleging large scale rigging by BJP in a constituency in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district during polling on Monday, hundreds of Congress workers led by the party candidate from the seat and her husband on Tuesday ransacked the district collectorate. Wife of MP Abrar Ahmed, Congress candidate from the area Yasmin Abrar led Congress workers who forced their entry into the collector’s office, SP Prem Singh said. When police tried to push them out, they threw stones at the collectorate building. Later, Yasmin sat on a dharna, protesting against BJP candidate Kirori Lal Meena’s alleged involvement in rigging. Chhattisgarh poll official suspended RAIPUR: The District Returning Officer (DRO) of Sarguja on Tuesday suspended an executive engineer of the district on charge of dereliction of duty during Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, officials sources said. The DRO, Sarguja, who is also the District Collector, Sonmani Bora suspended the executive engineer of the National Highway Aditya Kumar Sharma for allegedly failing to perform poll related duties, sources from Ambikapur said. The sources said Sharma was appointed as the zonal officer of Ambikapur Assembly segment. (ENS & Agencies)