Voting took place in assembly constituencies across the states of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union territory of Puducherry on Tuesday. West Bengal, where voting was over for first three phases, will have five more rounds of polling. A visibly enthusiastic voting was held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in a single phase for all their assembly seats. In the state of Assam, people voted for the last of its three-phase polls. The results for all the four states and one Union territory will be announced on May 2. In Assam, voting was held in 40 out of the 126 seats in the final phase and the contest was between the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress-led Mahajot. In Tamil Nadu, all the 234 assembly seats were in the fray and the contest is between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance and the incumbent All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). In Kerala, 140 seats witnessed a fierce fight between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). In Puducherry, voters exercised their franchise for the 30 assembly seats shortly after the Union territory slipped into a political crisis before the elections were announced as the Congress-led government fell due to defections.
TEJASHWI YADAV IS SUPPORTING MAMATA IN BENGAL BUT MAY NOT CAMPAIGN
The JD(U) is contesting the West Bengal polls but Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is not coming to Bengal to campaign. While the RJD has extended support to Mamata Banerjee in her endeavour to defeat the BJP, Tejashwi Yadav is avoiding to visit the state despite a large number of people of Bihar living in Bengal. According to RJD leaders, Laluji is completely in support of Mamatadidi in Bengal and doing the work to protect her. There is no need for Tejashwi to go there.
SHASHI THAROOR IS AMONG CONGRESS’S POTENTIAL CM CANDIDATES IN KERALA
Ghulam Nabi Azad is the tallest Congress leader among the signatories of the letter which 23 party leaders had written to President Sonia Gandhi. However he was absent in campaigning in states going to polls. While Azad and some of the other G-23 leaders were missing in action but Manish Tewari another signatory campaigned in both Kerala and Assam. Meanwhile speculation is rife that Shashi Tharoor who campaigned across Kerala and energised the party cadre will be the choice for the chief minister’s post if the Congress led UDF is voted for power.
BY POLLS FOR ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES ON APRIL 17 IN RAJASTHAN ARE CRUCIAL
Bypolls in Sujangarh, Sahara and Rajsamand assembly constituencies in Rajasthan will be held on April 17 and counting will take place on May 2. Sujangarh and Sahara seats were won by the Congress and Rajsamand seat was won by BJP in the last assembly election. BJP has given the ticket to Late Kiran Maheshwari’s daughter Deepti Maheshwari in Rajsamand seat in the hope that she will get the sympathy vote. In the same way Congress has given Manoj Meghwal from Sujangarh in place of his father late Bhanwarlal Meghwal and Gaytri Devi wife of Late MLA Kailash Trivedi from Sahara seat. BJP has given former minister Khemaram Meghwal from Sujangarh and former MLA Ratanlal Jat from Sahara constituency. The result of by-poll will effect Ashok Gehlot government because he has not enough strength in the house and the action of Sachin Pilot has to be seen in by-polls.
NEW MAHARASHTRA HOME MINISTER DILIP PATIL HAS FULL CONFIDENCE OF PAWAR
Dilip Walse Patil who is the new Home Minister of Maharashtra after the resignation of Anil Deshmukh is NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s most trusted man. As Dilip takes charge of the important Home portfolio, his reputation as a trouble shooter will be called on to fix the broken Mumbai and state police force. In previous NCP government he has been entrusted with finance, energy and medical and higher education portfolio. While Sharad Pawar holds no official position but he virtually plays major role and nothing important is decided without his prior concurrence. Now Pawar believes he can take care of the storm. (IPA)
