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ABP CVoter Opinion Polls 2023 LIVE: Hello and welcome to ABP Live Blog for the first Snap Poll pertaining for assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. The Congress-ruled state will witness an election later this year.
The Election Commission has announced the schedule for assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. These elections, slated between November 7 and 30, with the counting of votes scheduled for December 3, are being viewed as a semi-final clash between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, in a press conference, outlined the election dates. Madhya Pradesh will witness a single-phase assembly poll on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30, and Mizoram on November 7. Chhattisgarh, however, will go to the polls in two phases, with the first phase on November 7 (covering 20 seats) and the second on November 17 (covering 70 seats).
These high-stakes elections pose a litmus test for the Congress, the dominant party in the INDIA bloc, currently in power in two of these four major states. Simultaneously, they hold great significance for the BJP, with results poised to impact the discourse leading up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated re-election bid next year.
The BJP and Congress are set for direct face-offs in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. They also vie for supremacy in Telangana, where Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi seeks a third consecutive term. In Mizoram, regional parties and the Congress challenge the incumbent Mizo National Front, with ethnic divisions in the aftermath of violence in Manipur potentially altering political dynamics.
Of particular note are the assembly polls in three Hindi-speaking states, considered BJP strongholds in two consecutive Lok Sabha elections, along with Telangana, which are expected to exert a significant influence on national politics. In the 2019 national elections, despite Congress victories in the state assembly contests, the BJP triumphed in these three central and western states, collectively accounting for 65 Lok Sabha constituencies. However, the BJP acknowledges that each election is distinct and has made extensive efforts to regain power in these states.
In an unusual move, the BJP has already announced 79 candidates for Madhya Pradesh assembly elections and 21 candidates for the Chhattisgarh polls, reflecting their determination to surpass the Congress, who dealt the BJP a significant defeat in Karnataka.
With nearly 16 crore eligible voters across these states, the CEC emphasized efforts to ensure inducement-free polls. Of the 1.77 lakh polling stations, over 1.01 lakh will feature webcasting facilities.
In response to the election announcement, BJP President J P Nadda expressed confidence in his party’s ability to secure a majority in all states under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the party’s commitment to public welfare, social justice, and progressive development during a meeting of the Congress Working Committee.
The Election Commission, in preparation for the elections, prioritized inclusive electoral rolls and roll-to-poll efforts. The introduction of the Election Seizure Management System aims to enhance oversight and ensure inducement-free elections. Over 940 checkposts will be established to monitor interstate borders and deter illicit activities like the flow of cash, freebies, and drugs. Additionally, the EC will maintain a strict vigil over suspicious online cash transfers through wallets.
These assembly elections hold great political significance and are expected to set the tone for the impending Lok Sabha elections as political parties gear up for intense campaigning in these five states.
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