Assembly elections 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Rajasthan gears up for elections, BJP and Congress in tight contest

Since 1998 — that is, in 25 years — no political party has retained power in Rajasthan. Also, since then, the state has seen only two chief ministers — Ashok Gehlot from the Congress and Vasundhara Raje from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two held the post alternatively. Here's why

Rajasthan is all set go to polls on Saturday, November 25. The campaign for Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023 ended at 6 pm on Thursday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress trading barbs over a host of issues. These issues ranged from crime to women safety to corruption and paper leak cases.

Tap here to know vote timings, how to know your candidate and SWOT analysis of BJP, Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called the Cabinet Secretary and other important officials and instructed them to expedite the process of sub-categorisation in reservation for the Madiga community, government sources told news agency ANI on Friday.

Ahead of the Telangana Election 2023, Telangana Minister and BRS MLA KT Rama Rao said, "4% Muslim reservation is not on the basis of religion. That is on the basis of socio-economic status. Amit Shah should think before speaking. Secondly, we know what the BJP does and what it is attempting to do. It is trying to polarise...But they will fail this time."

Ahead of Rajasthan Election 2023, Sachin Pilot said, "The state will vote tomorrow to choose a new government. I believe it was a good, long campaign. We tried to focus our campaign on public issues. I am happy that we ran a balanced and positive campaign that was liked by the people."

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, "Everything will be clear on 3rd December. But wherever I had a discussion and whatever feedback I received, going by that I feel that the BJP will register its biggest victory till date."

On being targetted during BJP's campaigning and discussed during Congress' campaigning, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the discussions do take place in elections. “What is the fun in elections if there are no discussions? But I say again and again that whatever is the discussion, speech and campaign - they all should be based on developmental issues, planning for the future, your report card. If we give priority to public issues, a good narrative builds for the elections,” he said. 

“The campaigning in Rajasthan was long this time. But I think it was very positive from our side. BJP tried to personalise it and tried to rake emotional issues but I think their campaign didn't pick up pace. Public has made up their mind, the voting tomorrow will be held in favour of Congress,” he added.

Speaking in Palakurthy, Telangana Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Even after hard work, employment is not provided, even after papers, jobs are not there, papers get leaked and corruption occur in it. What could a youth expect?... The government in the state is dismissing your future."

"KCR had promised to make CM from the Dalit community. Today, in front of you all, I want to say that the BJP will give you a CM belonging to a backward class," Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said on Friday.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has taken a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The cabinet minister called the Congress MP "Jealous and frustrated," and added, "He thinks that only his family has the right to govern the country. He has been sitting jobless for last one decade. He is facing a case for looting the country's assets. He has no words other than abusing the PM. This shows his feudal mindset. He is intolerant".

Putting a rest to speculations of an in-party dispute between Sachin Pilot and CM Ashok Gehlot, the Rajasthan CM on Friday shared a video post on X (formerly Twitter) of Congress leader Sachin Pilot urging people to vote for his party in the upcoming Rajasthan assembly election.

Madhya Pradesh police have registered a case against 17 persons for clicking polling photos during state assembly polls and sharing them on social media in Vidisha district. The case was registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 188 and section 128 of the Representation of the People Act.

Deputy collector Harshal Choudhary said, "Mobiles are not allowed at the polling station, but some persons took mobile phones secretly, clicked pictures while voting, and posted them on social media".

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday appealed to people to vote for his party to ensure its victory with full majority which will mark an end to the trend of alternating governments of Congress and the BJP in the state.

"Rajasthan Assembly elections are going to be held on November 25. We have conducted several campaigns in the run-up to the polls and the feedback and response from the public suggest that Congress is going to form the government in the state with full majority. The tradition of the alternate governance of BJP and Congress will change this time and once again people will vote for Congress," Pilot said.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka's Deputy CM DK Shivakumar will hold a rally for the Telangana election today (24 November). Rahul Gandhi will conduct a roadshow in Jukkal while Shivakumar will do a roadshow at Kamareddy.

Reacting to the Election Commission of India's show cause notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Prime Minister Modi in an election rally, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the whole remarks issue was hyped up in view of the upcoming elections.

"The ECI can send the notice. There is no issue with it. This whole remark issue has been reiterated and hyped up in the face of the elections. We will respond to their notice," Kharge told media.

Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Barmer on Monday said, "Our guys were playing well. They would have won the World Cup. But 'Panauti' made us lose. The TV guys won't tell you this but people know".

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is a "fighter" and will give a "dignified and honest" reply to the Election Commission's notice over his "Jaibkatra" (pickpocket) and "Pannauti" remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an election rally.

"Rahul Gandhi is a strong and honest leader. I am confident that he will give a dignified and honest answer. He is a fighter. He can afford to be fearless because he is honest," Sule said.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued a show cause notice to the Congress MP on the BJP's complaint to the ECI that Rahul Gandhi has allegedly made derogatory remarks in his poll rallies against the prime minister.

On EC notice to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, NCP MP Supriya Sule said, "Rahul Gandhi is a strong and honest leader. I am confident that he will give a dignified and honest answer. He is a fighter. He can afford to be fearless because he is honest."

Chhattisgarh CM & Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said, "Congress will form government in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

“Rajasthan has never seen a more 'anti-women' government than the current Congress regime,” PM Modi said in Rajsamand on Thursday.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal says, "We are going to form the government in all 5 states.

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj was quoted by ANI as saying, "We will send central forces to polling stations identified as 'critical'. There are elaborate preparations at counting centres. EVMs are transported with security. In strong room, EVMs are guarded with three layers of security. On counting day, there will be CCTVs and every round of counting of votes will be verified. So far, 777 cases registered for violation of the Model Code of Conduct."

On Election Commission's notice to Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Let them send (notice to Rahul Gandhi), we will answer it. It is not a big deal. There has not been any such severe commentary on anyone. But since the elections are going on, hype is being created. We will reply to the notice...

"The way they are trying to scare in the elections today is not right. If they want to save the democracy, then they should give a level playground. Instead, ED, CBI, etc are being used...," Kharge said.

The Election Commission of India issued a show-cause notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'panauti', 'pickpocket' and loan-waiver remarks targeting PM Modi, news agency PTI reported.

Addressing a rally in Deogarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "...Congress promoted Rajasthan to the number one position in riots, crime, corruption and paper leak, we will promote Rajasthan to the number one position in tourism, investments, industries and education...Five years ago, when Congress came to power, they stopped all our schemes. On 3rd December, when the BJP comes to power, we will take forward the schemes that will benefit the people of the state..."

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, "...They (BJP) do politics of appeasement. We are secular. We organised the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. It is our decision to conduct caste census and it will be conducted after our government comes to power..."

On the last day of campaigning in the poll-bound state of Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress-ruled government. The Prime Minister alleged that the state has not seen any government that has committed more "atrocities" against women than the present government during their last five years of rule.

“The way our daughters, sisters and mothers have lifted the flag of the BJP is worth appreciation. I have seen this in the entire state. The women in Rajasthan are not ready to tolerate Congress, even for a moment. Rajasthan has not seen any government that has done more atrocities on women than the present government.” (ANI)

The Gurjars of Alwar are a divided house on the issue of community leader Sachin Pilot not getting the chief minister's post in Congress-ruled Rajasthan.

The community here wants to see Pilot as the next chief minister after the 2018 "betrayal" by the Congress which picked Ashok Gehlot over him. While some people want to switch loyalties to the BJP over this, others say only the Congress can make Pilot the CM.

In Alwar district, there are about 1.5 lakh people who belong to the Gurjar community amongst the estimated 40 lakh people's population. (PTI)

On the last day of campaigning for the Rajasthan Assembly polls, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said the people will not fall for the alleged "lies, deception and hateful words" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and have decided to change the revolving door tradition of the state.

In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said Rajasthan, the holy land of heroes and warriors, has accepted the Congress' public welfare schemes.

"Thanks to more than one crore families for reposing their trust in the seven guarantees of the Congress party. There is an environment in favour of the Congress party in the entire state," he said. (PTI)

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu asserted that his government has taken a stern stance against corruption and condemned the influence of money in elections, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

Speaking at the Mega Alpkalin Vistarak training programme by the BJP at D K Convention Hall here on Wednesday, Khandu emphasised on the importance of instilling an anti-corruption culture at the grassroots level.

He underscored the need to eradicate practices of money-power during elections. (PTI)

The Congress which came to power in Himachal Pradesh in 2022 by promising "Ten Guarantees" failed to implement them even after one-year of its rule, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur alleged on Thursday.

He also said the BRS led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao runs the family-led dispensation in the state and that he came to know that there is no department left without corruption. (PTI)

Hindutva firebrand leader and former BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Thursday urged the "newcomers" in the party to work together with veterans and seniors to achieve the saffron party's common goals.

Kumar, who was recently replaced by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as Telangana BJP president, without naming anyone, called for the newcomers to sort out differences, if any, through dialogue. (PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday criticised the ruling Congress government in Rajasthan, alleging that the communal clashes took place in the state with planned strategies and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot failed to take any concrete action against the rioters due to 'vote bank' politics.

"Appeasement politics crossed all limits during Gehlot's government. In the last 5 years, planned riots have taken place in Chhabra, Bhilwara, Karauli, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Nohar, Mewat, Malpura, and Jaipur. Due to vote bank politics, the Gehlot government did not take any concrete action against the rioters. Bulldozer was used on Ram Darbar in Salasar. In Alwar, a Shivalinga was broken with a drilling machine. A bulldozer rammed the cow shed in Kathumar; you can see many such cases of appeasement in Rajasthan in the last five years," Amit Shah said. (ANI)

“There is a competition going on between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot that 'Kaun Jyada Nikamma hai'. Ashok Gehlot says 'Pilot sabse Nikamma hai', Sachin Pilot says 'Gehlot sabse nikamma hai'.” (ANI)

Hindutva firebrand leader and former BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Thursday urged the "newcomers" in the party to work together with veterans and seniors to achieve the saffron party's common goals.

Kumar, who was recently replaced by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as Telangana BJP president, without naming anyone, called for the newcomers to sort out differences, if any, through dialogue. (PTI)

The Congress on Thursday said its Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme in Rajasthan is a “model” for the entire country and its promise of increasing the medical coverage under it to ₹50 lakh will provide maximum relief to the poor and the middle class.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh noted that former party chief Rahul Gandhi reached Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jaipur and met some patients who were getting free treatment under ‘Chiranjeevi Yojana’. (PTI)

Campaigning for the Assembly elections in Rajasthan will end on Thursday evening.

Rajasthan goes to polls on November 25 and the results will be declared on December 3.

In a statement, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said the campaigning for Rajasthan Assembly elections will end at 6 pm on Thursday and no public meeting or procession can be held after that. (PTI)

With Rajasthan set to witness assembly polls on Saturday, the star campaigners from BJP and Congress are holding rallies and launching attacks at each other. The polling in the western state will be held on 25 November across 200 constituencies. The result is scheduled to be declared on 3 December. Read the complete story here.

Campaigning for the Assembly elections in Rajasthan will end on Thursday evening.

Rajasthan goes to polls on November 25 and the results will be declared on December 3.

In a statement, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said the campaigning for Rajasthan Assembly elections will end at 6 pm on Thursday and no public meeting or procession can be held after that. (PTI)

Ahead of the November 25 assembly polls in Rajasthan, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued two show-cause notices to the Congress state unit over its advertisements -- one claiming a wave in its favour and another asking people to give missed calls to avail benefits of its poll promises.

The poll panel has asked state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra to respond to the notices by 3 pm on Thursday and 7 pm on Friday, respectively. (PTI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday came down heavily on the Congress-led government for the alleged worsening law and order situation in Rajasthan.

“Two years ago in Jodhpur, the streets witnessed the alarming sight of individuals brandishing naked swords and engaging in riotous activities. A bulldozer would have crushed these rioters if they had been in Uttar Pradesh, but the Rajasthan government remained silent,” he said while campaigning for the BJP. (ANI)

Reacting to AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi allegedly threatening a police officer in Hyderabad, Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy said that after the BJP comes to power in the state, such people will "stay in jail."

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi's brother, Akbaruddin Owaisi, was booked on Wednesday for openly threatening a police inspector who was asking him to follow the model code of conduct for the upcoming Telangana assembly polls.

"After the BJP comes to power, we will take action against such people and they will stay in jail," Telangana BJP chief said on Wednesday. (ANI)

The issues related to women's safety emerged as one of the major election topics in poll-bound Rajasthan. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, in their manifestos, promised a slew of measures to ensure women feel safe in the state.

During campaigns, BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took potshots at the Congress-led Rajasthan government over the law and order issues in the state. Speaking at an election rally in Barmer on November 15, PM Modi said that under the Congress rule, Rajasthan is leading in incidents of atrocities against women. Read the complete story here.

Ahead of the Rajasthan assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress-led Rajasthan government and said that the party is like a cricket team whose batters spent five years trying to run out of each other.

While addressing a public meeting in Churu district last week, PM Modi pointed out the power tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. He said, “In cricket, a batter comes and scores runs for his team. But there is so much infighting within the Congress that instead of scoring runs, its leaders spent five years trying to run out each other." Read the complete story here.