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<ul><li>As of 2:11 pm, NCP is leading in 55 seats and Congress is leading in 37. </li><li>Pawar has campaigned extensively braving weather and rains during the election. </li><li>He might have a say in the next government as BJP and Sena continue to squabble. </li></ul> It is not all over for Sharad Pawar and his party Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The incumbent coalition between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena may have ignored this septuagenarian but Pawar seems set for a second innings for his party—even if it in the opposition. As of 2:11 pm, NCP is leading in 55 seats and Congress is leading in 37, which is much higher than that was predicted by exit polls. If the two together have over a 100 seats, they will be a significant opposition even if BJP-Sena win the election. Also read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bjps-parag-shah-the-richest-candidate-in-maharashtra-election-result/articleshow/71738932.cms">BJP’s Parag Shah, the richest candidate in Maharashtra, is leading with more than half the vote share in Ghatkopar East</a> Most polls said that BJP and Sena could finish with over 200 seats, but as of now, the leads are a bit short of that. BJP and Shiv Sena--the frenemies While BJP and allies are in a clear lead, cracks have started to appear in their already fragile bond. The state machinery of BJP which was riding high on the Lok Sabha mandate had all but done away with their five-year old partner. After multiple fights over seat sharing, both the parties decided to field candidates in sensitive areas like Konkan⁠— in regions like Ratnagiri and Raigad⁠— calling it a ‘friendly fight’. But the fight was anything but friendly. BJP openly defied Sena when they fielded Narayan Rane who has been the party’s arch rival for years, as their candidate to put their foot into the Sena strongholds. Now, if Sena continues its lead, they will have better bargaining power. They are not shy of saying it out even before the final tally, and have staked a 50% claim in government formation. Pawar’s proximity to Thackeray can waver angry Sainiks As this melee continues, Pawar may play a key role. Not only does he have enough seats to have a say in the next government, he was also a friend to Bal Thackeray, the Sena founder. There is an emotional connect as the late Thackeray has once refused to field a Sena candidate in a constituency where Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule was making a debut. It is one of those rare friendships which stood the test of time and politics. Few have ever gained from ignoring an old man agile enough to campaign across the state in rains. He put up a brave front even as he is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and many of his party members quit right before elections. Pawar is one of those consummate politicians who has friends across the political spectrum including some high-profile ones in the BJP. So, the power of the opposition led by Pawar will depend on how much he decides to flex his muscle. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/maharashtra-state-elections-winner-and-leading-candidate-list-2019/articleshow/71739965.cms">Maharashtra State Elections winner and leading candidate list 201</a>9 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/haryana-state-assembly-election-2019-final-result/articleshow/71730556.cms">The final result of Haryana state election 2019</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/haryana-state-election-result-winner-list/articleshow/71738657.cms">Haryana State Election result and Winner list</a>

Sharad Pawar’s legwork at the age of 78 seems to have paid off

<ul><li><keyword id="6364749" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sharad-Pawar">Sharad Pawar</keyword> said that he was unaware of his nephew Ajit Pawar siding with the BJP at the last moment. </li><li>Ajit Pawar’s decision is an act of indiscipline, said Sharad Pawar. </li><li>Sena’s senior leader Sanjay Raut claimed that they were backstabbed by Ajit, and also that a few MLAs have been kidnapped. </li></ul>Among the many people who feigned ignorance of the shocking twist to the Maharashtra political stalemate is NCP numero uno Sharad Pawar. The Maratha strongman claims that he was unaware of his nephew Ajit Pawar siding with the BJP at the last moment, leading to an early morning<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/devendra-fadnavis-back-as-maharashtra-cm-as-ncp-ditches-sena-in-the-last-minute-for-bjp/articleshow/72193667.cms"> swearing in of Devendra</a> Fadnavis who is back at his throne. In a press conference held with Shiv Sena today, Pawar said, “Ajit’s decision is an act of indiscipline and that no honest NCP worker is in favour of the NCP-BJP alliance that is in power.” The 78-year-old who made an<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/sharad-pawar-final-result-of-maharashtra-state-assembly-election-2019/articleshow/71738410.cms"> avenging comeback</a> into politics this time around, had campaigned extensively across the state. His poll slogan was BJP’s insensitive attitude towards farmers. Surprisingly as all the four parties—Congress, BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP were trading backroom—Pawar had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- apparently to speak about farmer’s issues. At the press conference held to placate hurt sentiments of Shiv Sena who were getting ready to crown Uddhav Thackeray as the CM—Pawar blamed the governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari -- who was formerly a member of BJP. “We can’t rule out the possibility of ‘cheating’ governor,” Pawar said at the press conference. Shiv Sena’s senior leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that they were backstabbed by Ajit, and also that a few MLAs have been kidnapped and a few are returning. The state went into a crisis mode after former frenemies--BJP and Sena could not agree on seat sharing, especially when it comes to the chief minister. Both these parties together could have reached the majority of 140 odd seats needed, but the fragile alliance which was evident even before polls could hold on. This was especially true after Sena won a<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/maharashtra-state-assembly-election-2019-final-result/articleshow/71731412.cms"> surprisingly good mandate</a> with 56 seats tilting the balance of power. The fact that NCP and Congress also won 54 and 44 seats also made them a powerful combine. BJP, on the other hand, won 105 seats even as exit polls predicted a massive win of over 200.

Sharad Pawar blames governor along with Ajit Pawar for the shocking twist in Maha power battle

From political rallies to television debates to drawing room conversations, the Maharashtra state Assembly elections seems to be dead rubber. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who died in 1966, an election issue in 2019 and a lot of the media as well as the opposition seem to have fallen for the trap. However, there are enough issues which the opposition could have capitalised on the voter dissatisfaction. But as the campaign comes to a close, the dispirited opposition failed to offer even an alternate narrative, and has showed much less gusto in providing leadership against the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state. As the leaders dwell on the glories of the past, the state’s population, which is reeling between drought and deluge, is worried about their future. These are some of the issues in which the people of Maharashtra have suffered under the current establishment. Auto sector slowdown hits Chakan in Pune Maharashtra has been one of the worst victims of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/slowdown-plunges-august-auto-sales-to-lowest-since-1997-98/articleshow/71055961.cms">economic slowdown</a>. In Pune, hundreds of thousands have lost jobs in the auto sales drop resulted in slashing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-auto-manufacturers-have-laid-off-350000-jobs-in-four-months/articleshow/70563890.cms">millions of jobs </a>of both temporary and permanent workers. Auto sector employees who are amongst the most well compensated of blue collar workers, are now roaming around in the auto hub of Chakan in Pune—doing<a href="https://theprint.in/economy/in-pune-auto-hub-an-engineer-is-selling-paan-another-is-roaming-around-with-his-cv/290816/"> menial jobs</a>. Former Congress party president Rahul Gandhi was one of the few to point out to the issue. He commented that Modi is showing youth the moon taking a dig at Chandrayaan 2 mission, even as the auto sector “remained shattered”. BJP, in its manifesto, however promised one crore jobs to people, but lacks details on how they plan to reverse the situation, which only seems to be worsening. Burdened with loans and low support prices-farmers resort to suicides Farmers are in no better position either. In the last five years, around 16,000 farmers have committed suicides said <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/india/maharashtra-news/elections/article/people-suffered-worst-16000-farmers-committed-suicide-over-the-past-five-years-under-sena-bjp-sharad-pawar/504721">Sharad Pawar</a>, the leader Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at his election rally in Anushakti Nagar. The septuagenarian criticized the government for not waiving loans of farmers who are hit by drought, even as thousands of crores to corporates are being written off as non-performing assets. The state government did waive off loans but it covered only 30% of the affected. These last five years have been tough for farmers in the state as they claim to be hurt by its policies which did not increase the minimum support prices. Around 15,000 farmers marched from Nasik to Mumbai not once but twice in the last five years—asking the government for aid. In fact, in a shocking protest in 2017, the state’s farmers emptied milk onto the streets leaving the government red faced. The state has a new crime capital in Nagpur The state also has another problem that is ballooning—increasing crime in Nagpur. The constituency of the ruling chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has turned notorious for organized and unorganized crime. On an average, over 700 cases are registered in the city which shares a border with Madhya Pradesh. Apart from increased organized crime and racketeering, the city has also<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/cops-got-cracking-to-remove-nagpurs-crime-capital-tag/articleshow/71283462.cms"> turned infamous</a> for prostitution, murder and attempted murder cases, amongst others. Fadnavis has been trying to turn around the extensive crime using stringent laws against anti-social elements. This started in 2015, but there has only been a slight change in the number of crimes. Mumbai’s creaky infrastructure Mumbai and its suburbs too have been many burning problems for which India the opposition provided only lip service to. The repeated lack of preparation leading to loss of lives during flood, which is a predictable annual occurrence in the city, has been a major source of discontent. The city’s commute has worsened in the last few years as metro and other construction have weighed only the already-snaking traffic. Even if one were to look at it as a temporary pain towards a better, it does not help that even the roads are filled with potholes. The Aarey Colony mess As the state approved the chopping of over 2,000 trees for the construction of a metro car shed at Aarey colony, a large citizen protest ensued but never turned into the poll issue it could have been. The protesting citizens were defeated in a court case and it sure left a bad aftertaste for those who detested the chopping of trees amidst a rising awareness around the terrible impact on the environment it would have. The protests were also diluted by a large number of people who came in support of the metro car shed as it would make commuting easier for millions of Mumbaikars. The opposition parties were conspicuous in their absence on ground over the issue and thus, it never took a political dimension. The dynasty debut The issues which find a pulse with young voters could have been handled by a young politician <a href="https://scroll.in/article/940621/behind-the-aditya-thackeray-campaign-in-mumbai-is-the-quiet-work-done-by-another-shiv-sainik">like Aditya Thackeray </a>from the state’s most-popular political family. But, seven years after the demise of the charismatic Bala Saheb Thackeray, his successors, including Aditya’s father Uddhav, have lacked Bala Saheb’s gravitas. Instead, Aditya got ridiculed for sporting a lungi, a South Indian attire, as his detractors cited his grandfather’s attacks on South Indian migrants a few decades. He was also caught on the wrong foot endorsing the <a href="https://rajkaran.com/aadtiya-thackeray-gets-trolled-for-his-mumbai-best-aahe-tweet/">BEST bus service</a>, and his refusal to address issues like a toddler <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/video-shows-rescue-operation-of-mumbai-boy-who-fell-in-drain-2-days-ago-2068380">slipping down the </a>drain--did not go down well with the electorate. An acid test for the BJP government The politicians of the ruling party which is the BJP and Shiv Sena combine, seem to be taking it slow on campaigning this year. In fact, the CM Fadnavis also said that there is no<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/pehelwans-panzies-and-nikammas-maharashtra-elections-rallies-keep-the-drama-high/articleshow/71610174.cms"> pehelwan or a great opponent</a> this time. A lot more believe that this state election is a foregone conclusion mostly because the Parliamentary elections in April and May this year have shown that there is a strong BJP wave. Yet, a lot has changed since Modi came to power the second time. For one, the economic slowdown has become a grim reality and painful reality—which the central government has been slow to react to. Maharashtra’s election outcomes often mirror the general elections that have preceded them in recent years but surprises are born out of complacency. But for that, there has to be a credible intent, palpable energy, and effective communication from the opposition.

Maharashtra state elections 2019: These are the issues the opposition could have capitalised on but didn’t

<ul><li><keyword id="6366108" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ajit-pawar">Ajit Pawar</keyword>, nephew of Sharad Pawar, is contesting the <keyword id="2472094" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-assembly-election">Maharashtra Assembly election</keyword> from <keyword id="506914" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Baramati-constituency">Baramati constituency</keyword>.</li><li>According to the Election Commission, Pawar is set to win by a margin of over 1 lakh votes.</li><li>Pawar announced he was resigned from politics after being accused of a ₹25,000 crore scam.</li><li>Within a day, Pawar announced that he's going to continue to contest the state election.</li></ul> Ajit Pawar, nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) patriarch Sharad Pawar, resigned as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and quit politics altogether on September 27 — yet, his name was still on the ballots in Maharashtra on October 21. And, now he's won the in Baramati constituency with a large margin of 1.5 lakh. Pawar was able to garner 83.24% of vote share which he got nearly 2 lakh votes to his name. In comparison, the BJP candidate Gopichand Kundlik Padalkar trailed behind with 30,282 votes, which is only 12.92% of the vote share. Also read: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="NEWSINCONTEXT" target="false" refhostid="261" refmsid="71734588" refmstype="2" refmssubtype="0"><cdata><![CDATA[Dynasty candidates contesting Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly election 2019]]></cdata></div>
















 Fighting the election from Baramati constituency, he’ll be going up against 10 other candidates, including Gopichand Kundlik Padalkar from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The high-profile leader of the NCP, known fondly as Ajit Dada, hasn’t had an easy run. Amid campaigning for the election, he was accused of money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate - a ₹25,000 crore scam to do with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB). He’s made headlines for all the wrong reasons but he has still not be written off by the political watchers in the state. Also read: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="NEWSINCONTEXT" target="false" refhostid="261" refmsid="71731412" refmstype="2" refmssubtype="0"><cdata><![CDATA[Maharashtra Assembly Election 2019 results, BJP-Sena combine leads in over 163 seats and Congress-NCP in 93]]></cdata></div>
















 After Pawar’s unexpected resignation, he held a press conference within a day to apologise and announce that he will continue to contest the election. "I put in my papers before the speaker's personal assistant at the state assembly yesterday because I felt responsible for Sharad Pawar's name turning up in the matter. I apologise for taking such a decision without telling anybody," Making the fight tougher for Ajit Pawar, party chief Sharad Pawar and Baramati MP Supriya Sule didn’t hold any rallies for Pawar — instead it was his wife, son and other leaders campaigned for him. Pawar’s past The current MSCB scam is the second money laundering allegation leveled against Pawar. Back in 2012, Pawar resigned as the Water Resources Minister after allegations of ₹20,000 irrigation scam. He made a comeback mere months later, when he was sworn in as the deputy CM after getting a clean chit from the government. Baramati, home field of the Pawars, is pegged as a homage to the ‘Sharad Pawar Model of Development’ by the NCP. What was once a primarily agrarian constituency is now filled with automobile units, distilleries, textile and sugar mills, according to the party. After the Assembly election in 2009, Pawar asserted that he would become the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra but lost out to Chhagan Bhujbal. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/dynasty-candidates-contesting-haryana-and-maharashtra-assembly-election-2019/articleshow/71734588.cms">Dynasty candidates contesting Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly election 2019</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bhupinder-singh-hooda-haryana-election-results-2019/articleshow/71734070.cms">Bhupinder Singh Hooda is leading – forging an unbreakable bond with his Garhi Sampla constituency</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/dhiraj-deshmukh-maharashtra-assembly-election-result-2019/articleshow/71730385.cms">Deshmukh brothers are looking for a Congress win in Latur</a>

Ajit Pawar wins in Baramati with more than 1.5 lakh margin

The <keyword id="19895876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Election Commission of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Election Commission of India">Election Commission of India</keyword> (ECI) has officially announced the schedules for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, setting the stage for crucial state elections next month. Here’s what voters in these states can expect: <h2>Maharashtra: Single-phase voting on November 20</h2>Maharashtra will head to the polls in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. This election will see a high-stakes contest between two major coalitions: the <keyword id="19924537" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Vikas-Aghadi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Vikas Aghadi" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Vikas Aghadi">Maha Vikas Aghadi</keyword> (MVA) and the <keyword id="21555670" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Yuti-Alliance" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Yuti Alliance" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Yuti Alliance">Maha Yuti Alliance</keyword>. The MVA consists of <keyword id="19905331" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uddhav-Thackeray" source="keywords">Uddhav Thackeray</keyword>'s Shiv Sena (UBT), the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword>, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Sharad Pawar. Meanwhile, the Maha Yuti Alliance brings together the <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharatiya Janata Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bharatiya Janata Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. This intense battle for control over the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly follows the end of the current term on November 26. The model code of conduct has come into immediate effect in Maharashtra, guiding political parties on appropriate campaigning practices and ensuring fair elections. <h2>Jharkhand: Two-phase voting on November 13 and 20</h2>In Jharkhand, voting will occur in two phases: the first on November 13 and the second on November 20. The results will be declared on November 23, alongside Maharashtra’s. This election focuses on the 81-seat Assembly, with a fierce competition expected between the ruling <keyword id="20028356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jharkhand-Mukti-Morcha" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha">Jharkhand Mukti Morcha</keyword> (JMM)-Congress alliance and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the BJP, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), and Janata Dal (United). Jharkhand’s current Assembly term expires on January 5, 2025. The elections will feature 29,562 polling stations across urban and rural areas to accommodate the state’s 2.6 crore registered voters. This diverse electorate includes 66.84 lakh young voters and 11.84 lakh first-time voters, with special arrangements for 3.67 lakh persons with disabilities. <h2>Pre-election preparations</h2>The ECI’s preparations for the elections began in September, with teams visiting both states to assess readiness. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, met with local officials, district collectors, and political representatives to evaluate logistical arrangements and security measures. In Maharashtra, the Maha Yuti Alliance and the MVA have been ramping up their efforts to secure <keyword id="23060079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-support" source="keywords">voter support</keyword> in what is expected to be a dramatic electoral showdown. In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM, which is part of the INDIA bloc, is eyeing another term despite recent controversies surrounding Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who faced legal challenges earlier this year. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance remains strong, as the party is expected to contest all 81 seats in the Assembly. (With inputs from agencies)

ECI Announces election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand; both states to vote in November

Citing UK-based newspaper, Financial Times which claimed that the <keyword id="6367820" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="adani-group" source="Orion">Adani Group</keyword> was purchasing coal above its market value from Asian countries, <keyword id="1575" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="congress" source="Orion">Congress</keyword> leader <keyword id="5268" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rahul-gandhi" source="Orion">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> on Wednesday alleged that it is due to this reason for prices of electricity in country are getting inflated. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi alleged,"In a report from the famous Financial Times, London, Now we know that Adani Group has committed another fraud of Rs 12,000 crore. So now the total corruption of the Adani Group stands at Rs 32,000 crore. They overinvoice their coal imports, and when the coal enters India, its price changes leading to surge in electricity prices. These Rs 12,000 crore are getting paid from the pocket of common masses." Emphasising that Congress is already providing subsidy in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi said," We are also ready to provide subsidies in Madhya Pradesh. No media has an interest in this story. No one is interested in asking questions from the Adani group. This cannot happen without protection being provided from Prime Minister. Adani buys coal in Indonesia, and by the time the coal arrives in India, its price doubles. Our electricity prices are going up." Rahul Gandhi further alleged that Adani Group is involved in a direct theft of the public money."This time the theft is happening from the pockets of the public.When you push the button for a switch, Adani gets money in his pocket.Enquiry is happening in different countries, and people are asking questions, but nothing is happening in India," he said. Earlier last week, the Adani Group had said there is a renewed attempt by the UK based newspaper Financial Times and its collaborators to rehash old and baseless allegations to tarnish the name and standing of the Indian business conglomerate. In a media statement, Adani Group said on October 9 that these articles were part of an extended campaign to advance vested interests under the guise of public interest. "Continuing their relentless campaign, the next attack is being fronted by Dan McCrum of the Financial Times, who jointly with the <keyword id="12406255" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="occrp" source="Orion">OCCRP</keyword> put out a false narrative against the Adani Group on 31 August 2023. The OCCRP is funded by <keyword id="101566" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="george-soros" source="Orion">George Soros</keyword>, who has openly declared his hostility against the Adani Group," the Adani Group statement said. Having failed earlier, the UK daily is making another effort to financially destabilise the Adani Group by raking up an old, baseless allegation of over-invoicing of coal imports, the statement added. Adani Group said in the case of Knowledge Infrastructure, one of the 40 importers mentioned in the General Alert Circular, the DRI's Show Cause Notice alleging over-valuation in the import of coal was quashed by the appellate tribunal (CESTAT). The question of over-invoicing price manipulation does not arise, it noted. Meanwhile, when asked why he was not raising questions about Sharad Pawar's meeting with Adani despite INDIA alliance being united on Adani issue, the Congress MP said, "I have not asked Sharad Pawar, he is not the Prime Minister of India. Sharad Pawar is not protecting Adani, Mr Modi is and that's why I asked Mr Modi this question. If Sharad Pawar was sitting as PM of India and protecting Adani, then I would be asking Sharad Pawar this question" Earlier this year, an American short seller Hindenburg Group had launched an attack on Adani Group in January this year through a report that allegedly claimed accounting fraud, stock price manipulation and improper use of tax havens.Post the Hindenburg report, the group had erased close to USD 150 billion in its market value. Adani Group has been denying all allegations since the beginning of the controversy. The Adani Group had then attacked Hindenburg as "an unethical short seller", stating that the report by the New York-based entity was "nothing but a lie". A short-seller in the securities market books gains from the subsequent reduction in the prices of shares.

Rahul Gandhi targets Adani group again on coal pricing issue

New Delhi, Several political parties declined to share details of electoral bond donors citing various legal provisions, while others said they received the funding instruments through "drop box" or by post without any name. The DMK, which received most of its donations from a lottery firm, reached out to its donors to seek details of the electoral bonds as demanded by the <keyword id="19895345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supreme-court" source="keywords">Supreme Court</keyword> in 2019. The BJP cited the amendments to the Representation of People Act, 1951 and the relevant portions of the Reserve Bank of India Act and the Income Tax Act for not revealing its donors. "It is duly submitted that the electoral bonds were introduced with the aim of bringing only accounted for funds in political funding while protecting the donors from any consequences, therefrom," the BJP said in its letter to the <keyword id="19895782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="election-commission" source="keywords">Election Commission</keyword>. The <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="congress" source="keywords">Congress</keyword> shot off a letter to the <keyword id="19934368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="state-bank-of-india" source="keywords">State Bank of India</keyword> (SBI) seeking details of donors of electoral bonds, the amount, the bank account in which it was credited and the date. The SBI responded to the Congress that the details of the electoral bonds were available with the political parties and shared the statement of the bank account which was shared with the Commission. The Samajwadi Party shared details of bonds of relatively smaller amounts of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, but merely mentioned that 10 bonds of Rs 1 crore each were received by post without any name. The DMK, which received almost 77 per cent of its funds from lottery king Santiago Martin's Future Gaming, said it had reached out to the donors of the party to get details of the donations they had made. "The scheme also does not require the details of the donor to be furnished to the donee. ... Be that as it may, following the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court, we contacted our donors and we were able to collect the details from them," the DMK said. The <keyword id="19910625" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="telugu-desam-party" source="keywords">Telugu Desam Party</keyword> mentioned "not readily available" in the column for listing out the names of donors. The <keyword id="19968095" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="trinamool-congress" source="keywords">Trinamool Congress</keyword> said the electoral bonds were sent to the party office and were "dropped in the drop box". The party said some bonds were sent through messengers from various persons who wished to support the party, many of whom prefer to remain anonymous. The NCP, then led by Sharad Pawar, expressed inability to furnish details of donors against each bond as the party had not maintained details or issued any receipts. The letter by the NCP to the Election Commission said several of its office-bearers were busy with the election campaign. "Wherever possible we have indicated the name of the person through whom bonds were received by the party," the NCP said. The Goa unit of the Congress reached out to its donor V M Salgaonkar and Brothers to get details of the electoral bonds worth Rs 30 lakh given by them to the party. The RJD said the details about donations worth Rs 1.5 crore were not readily available. The Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) has told the Election Commission that someone delivered to its office an envelope with electoral bonds worth Rs 10 crore in 2019, which were redeemed by the party.

Electoral bonds dropped at office, received by post, say political parties

<ul><li>BJP-Sena combine win 161 seats, Congress and allies win 98 and others in 29.</li><li>Sharad Pawar comes back from the shadows to drive his party NCP to better-than-expected performance. </li><li>The seat sharing and negotiations will get tougher after Sena has made its stance of equal sharing, clear.</li></ul>The Bharatiya Janata Party-Sena alliance won 161 seats while the Congress-NCP combine won 98 seats. Independents and other parties managed to win around 29 seats, as per election commission. While the results came as per expected, it did not match the sky high expectations of poll pundits and other experts. A few exit polls even predicted over 225 seats for the BJP combine but NCP make a comeback under the active campaigning of Sharad Pawar who did not contest in this election himself. "Those who have rebelled have not done well," commented Pawar speaking to the media today. The 78 year old put up a tough fight by campaigning extensively even during rains, even as he was being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. In fact, a large number of MLAs and other assemblymen had quit the party right before the elections. Shiv Sena too won more seats than expected in 48 constituencies. It is now all set to make a significant contribution to the Maharashtra government. "We (Amit Shah and himself) have agreed on a portfolio number and we expect to stick to that," said Uddhav Thackeray speaking to the press today. His son Aaditya Thackeray won his first election in the Worli constituency with over 25,000 vote margin. Sena's better than expected win could cause cracks in the fragile bond between the coalition partners, as Sena might now seek a higher representation in the ministry. Poll analysts believe that Sena might now propose a rotational chief ministership and even the deputy chief minister's post. <table style="border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor:text1;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"><tbody><tr><td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"></td><td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">Won </td> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">Leading </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> BJP-Shiv Sena </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">161 </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">0 </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Congress-NCP </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">98</td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Others </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">29</td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">0</td> </tr> </tbody></table> The vote share percentages over the last assembly elections however remained on similar lines. <table style="border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt; mso-border-themecolor:text1;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> </td> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 2019 vote share </td> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 2014 vote share </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> BJP </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 26.2% </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 28% </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Shiv Sena </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 17.7% </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 19.9% </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> Congress </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 15.6% </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 18.1% </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor: text1;mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> NCP </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 16.7% </td> <td style="border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor:text1;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;mso-border-right-themecolor: text1;mso-border-top-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-top-themecolor:text1; mso-border-left-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-left-themecolor:text1; mso-border-alt:solid black .5pt;mso-border-themecolor:text1;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> 17.4% </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Maharashtra was once a Congress stronghold but few remember it to be so. Even fewer debate the ability of the ruling Sena-BJP government to come into power. In fact, all the discussion is around the number of seats that the ruling government will win. A few exit polls even predicted that it will cross 220 out of the total seats of 288. These numbers are mostly based on how the state voted in for the Lok Sabha elections. But in spite of being dubbed Maharashtra’s Modi, the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis a debutante has a new set of problems. For one, a lot has changed since Modi came into power—and not for the better. The country is growing at a slower pace, and many industries like the auto sector have come to a grinding standstill. The state contributes around 12% to the country’s GDP with its capital also being the country’s financial capital. It also bears the worst of the ongoing slowdown. The state’s cultural capital isn’t doing too well either as Pune’s auto component and manufacturing sector is at the receiving end of job crisis. But the Fadnavis government has done what few states could—in the last five years—reduce its debt <a href="https://www.opindia.com/2019/10/poll-promise-vs-performance-of-devendra-fadnavis-govt-in-maharashtra/">by around</a> 9%. Moreover , the state’s fiscal deficit also reduced slightly. The government also claims to have kickstarted many irrigation projects that remained stalled during the Congress rule. In fact, NCP supremo’s son Ajit Pawar was the center of a massive irrigation scam in the last decade. But, the ruling government said that it brought 13 lakh hectares of land under irrigation during the tenure. But not all farmers are happy. Though they are being able to produce more, they are unhappy with the government’s attitude to minimum support prices. In fact, not one but two large protests were taken up by farmers as they marched from Nasik to Mumbai seeking a bailout package along with price support. Sharad Pawar who is not contesting this time around but campaigned extensively, took it up as a poll issue. In-fighting with Sena The state government has faced many internal headwinds as well. The allies Shiv Sena and BJP are not up in arms. This alliance was forged before Modi came into power in 2014 when few knew that BJP would have a far-reaching mass appeal. At the central level too, BJP as a party is getting stronger and its local Saffron cousin isn’t too impressed with the treatment. BJP is also turning a lot more assertive in the state. It has put its own candidates to fight in Sena strongholds of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindudurg—which are traditional Sena bastions. In a ludicrous manner, BJP calls it a ‘friendly fight’. Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray is not impressed. Shiv Sena which was formed by his father, Bal Thackeray, is formed on deep rooted connections with the soil and takes pride in it. A national level party wrenching control of it, hurts it at many levels. In a rare interview, Uddhav said that being second fiddle is not what he has in mind for his party. He even said that he forsees a time when a Sena candidate would be the CM, and his more ambitious son—Aditya Thackeray —is also making his debut in politics. This infighting might break the vote as people doubt the long-term prospects of the alliance going ahead.

It's a bittersweet win for BJP & Sena in Maharashtra— fewer seats to take and larger egos to battle

<ul><li>Maharashtra’s two-time MLA <keyword id="6511965" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="pankaj-bhujbal">Pankaj Bhujbal</keyword> of Nationalist Congress Party is trailing behind Shiv Sena's Suhasanna Dwarkanath Kande from Nandgaon in Nashik district. </li><li>Kande is leading with 85275 votes and 44.85% vote share. </li><li>Pankaj Bhujbal has 71386 votes with 37.5% share. </li></ul>Maharashtra’s two-time MLA Pankaj Bhujbal of Nationalist Congress Party is trailing behind Shiv Sena’s Suhasanna Dwarkanath Kande from Nandgaon in Nashik district. Kande is leading with 85275 votes and 44.85% vote share. Pankaj Bhujbal has 71386 votes with 37.5% share. The NCP is in alliance with Indian National Congress (INC) this election. Both the two parties announced that they will contest for 125 assembly seats, each. Also read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/maharashtra-exit-poll-2019-pankaja-munde-may-exercise-power-for-third-consecutive-term/articleshow/71715063.cms">Pankaja Munde trailing from Parli constituency, faces tough competition from Dhananjay Munde</a> Bhujbal, who is the son of the veteran leader Chhagan Bhujbal is facing a strong fight against Shiv Sena’s Subhash Kande. In 2014 assembly elections, Bhujbal defeated Kande by a margin of over 18,000 votes. Pankaj started his political career with Shiv Sena and switched to Congress party in 1991 after disputes with the late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. But soon after Sharad Pawar left Congress, Bhujbal also moved to the Nationalist Congress Party. The father-son duo had been actively campaigning for this election. However, what might go against Bhujbal this election is his ‘little’ contribution to resolve the challenges of water scarcity faced by the people in this constituency. Also read: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/chandrakant-patils-maharashtra-assembly-results-2019-in-kothrud/articleshow/71734771.cms">Kothrud could be anybody's seat now as Shinde and Chandrakant Patil head for a nailbiting finish</a> <keyword id="61754" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chaggan-Bhujbal">Chaggan Bhujbal</keyword>, who is also contesting from Yevuda defended Pankaj saying that “He has worked overtime to resolve the water problem. In fact, he ensured five times more water for Manmad in the last few years and spent ₹42 crore for water supply projects in the town.” The former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Chaggan Bhujbal was also accused in a money laundering case under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act. After two years of jail term, he is currently out on bail. He was arrested in 2016 by the Enforcement Directorate. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/dynasty-candidates-contesting-haryana-and-maharashtra-assembly-election-2019/articleshow/71734588.cms">Dynasty candidates contesting Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections 2019</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/drugs-money-and-liquor-seizures-grow-five-fold-in-maharashtra-and-triple-in-haryana-during-the-assembly-election/articleshow/71691582.cms">Drugs, money and liquor — seizures grow five-fold in Maharashtra and triple in Haryana during the Assembly election</a>

Pankaj Bhujbal is trailing by 13889 votes and 7% vote share from Nandgaon, Nashik

NEW DELHI: BJP faces a tough test in Bihar, <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> stares at a saffron challenge in Maharashtra and regional outfits contend with turning pitches on 117 <keyword id="6355187" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha">Lok Sabha</keyword> seats across 11 states and one union territory where polling is due on Thursday. 
 
The 2014 Lok Sabha polls will be more than half over after elections to 347 seats are complete after the sixth phase of voting, with the 84, 91 and 41 seats left in the remaining phases. 
 
BJP and Congress are squaring off in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and state bosses like Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, AIADMK's J Jayalalitha and NCP leader Sharad Pawar are also slugging it out with their rivals. 
 
This phase will settle the fate of political biggies like SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BJP leader Sushma Swaraj besides others like PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, DMK's A Raja and Congress’s Mohammad Azharuddin. 
 
The political topography is a challenge to BJP and Congress which need to defend turfs while seeking fresh gains even as regional forces like SP, BSP, AIADMK and DMK look to do much the same, with the difference that some now see BJP as an unanticipated threat. 
 
All of 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat of Puducherry will go to polls while elections will be over in major states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. In Maharashtra the populous bell weather Mumbai-Thane-Kalyan belt will vote along with northern areas and Raigad. 
 The contests in Mumbai are keen, with Shiv Sena-BJP hoping to snatch seats from Congress-NCP riding on an anti-UPA wave and the diminished presence of <keyword id="6355257" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Raj-Thackeray">Raj Thackeray</keyword>'s MNS. 
 
 
 
 
Tamil Nadu is a fascinating mosaic, with front runner AIADMK losing some steam while DMK reportedly making a comeback of sorts and BJP’s unlikely alliance with DMDK, MDMK and PMK emerging as a force on its own. 
 In Bihar, a virtual eclipse of <keyword id="123462" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Janata-Dal">Janata Dal</keyword> (U) poses problems for BJP with the fight appearing bi-polar in the five seats in Seemanchal and two that fall outside the region. There is a sizeable Muslim population in all seats and though BJP has been winning Araria, Purnea, Katihar and Bhagalpur, it now faces elections on its own. RJD boss Lalu Prasad and Congress seem to be back in the reckoning in the state. 
 
Mulayam Singh Yadav defends his base of Etah-Mainpuri-Etawah, areas where he must score to check a resurgent BJP with reports from 21 seats in western UP and Rohilkhand indicating gains for the saffronites. 
 
Though support for BSP is harder to gauge, SP’s main regional rival seems to be feeling the heat with religious polarisation post Muzaffarnagar riots making several contests primarily BJP versus SP affairs. 
 For BJP, the stakes continue to be high with its prime ministerial candidate <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> campaigning hard, addressing rallies in Hardoi, Etah, Firozabad and Mathura on Monday hoping for significant gains. 
 
The Jat vote is a factor in just as Yadavs are expected to rally behind SP while Akbarpur has sent BSP chief Mayawati to Lok Saba twice, most recently in 2004. 
 
In Rajasthan, prestigious Jat-influenced seats like Alwar and Bharatpur are due to poll along with constituencies like Tonk, Dausa and Sawai-Madhopur. 
 
In Chhattisgarh, urbanising seats like Durg, Raipur and Bilaspur will be voting with Congress hoping to loosen BJP's seeming stranglehold. 
 In West Bengal, Abhijeet Mukherjee, son of President <keyword id="6359124" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Pranab-Mukherjee">Pranab Mukherjee</keyword>, is facing an uphill battle, with Murshidabad presenting the only bright spot for the party. 
 In Assam constituencies like Kokrajhar, that witnessed fierce rioting, and capital Guwahati are going to polls. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP veterans like Sumitra Mahajan (Indore) and Sushma Swaraj (Vidisha) will seek re-election besides Congress's Meenakshi Natarajan, seen to be close to <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, from Mandsaur.

You Searched For "sharad pawar campaigning" and got 11 results

Sharad Pawar’s legwork at the age of 78 seems to have paid off

Katya Naidu

Sharad Pawar blames governor along with Ajit Pawar for the shocking twist in Maha power battle

Katya Naidu

Maharashtra state elections 2019: These are the issues the opposition could have capitalised on but didn’t

Katya Naidu

Ajit Pawar wins in Baramati with more than 1.5 lakh margin

Prabhjote Gill

ECI Announces election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand; both states to vote in November

BI India Bureau

Rahul Gandhi targets Adani group again on coal pricing issue

ANI

Electoral bonds dropped at office, received by post, say political parties

PTI

It's a bittersweet win for BJP & Sena in Maharashtra— fewer seats to take and larger egos to battle

BI India Bureau

Pankaj Bhujbal is trailing by 13889 votes and 7% vote share from Nandgaon, Nashik

Prerna Sindwani

Lok Sabha Polls: Voting In 117 Seats Today; Congress Faces Saffron Challenge

Times Of India

142 million voters go to polls today in 20 states— here’s a look at the key issues in every state

Dilsher

Sriram

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