The Election Commission has announced election dates for five states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Delhi - seen as a semi-final round before the national polls due in May.
Addressing a press conference this evening, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called the sting operation aired against them doctored and have alleged a conspiracy against them. AAP's Yogendra Yadav said "Action can't be based on this CD."
Following are the highlights of AAP's press conference:
- We are here to do politics with honesty
- We had asked for the raw footage to examine it
- We are prepared to go through any test, inquiry
- We asked Mediasarkar for the raw, unedited footage. We sent them a formal request to Anuranjan Jha
- We did not get any response from their side
- Anuranjan Jha has told TV channels that he will not share the footage... such behaviour raises many questions
- If they were in such a hurry to release the CD, then why this tardiness in giving us the footage
- The CD makes it clear that the reporter is after the candidate... and the candidate is trying to get rid of the reporter
- Most things have been shown out of context... in every case, the context has been cut out
- Look at the Shazia Ilmi tape - some important bits in the tape have been edited out
- What is being said and what is being transcribed is different
- Taking action based on this CD against any of our candidates will be against natural justice
- We will file a criminal defamation suit against those who made and circulated this CD and those channels which broadcast this
- We will go to the Election Commission and ask them to take strict action
- We think this is violation of the basic cannons of journalism - we will complain to the News Broadcasters Association and Press council
- We request the Election Commission to investigate this in 48 hours
- The people of this country have faith in the Election Commission
- They now have the whole footage - and if they find any of our candidates are indeed involved - as the CD suggests, AAP will withdraw that candidate
- We entered politics with being clean and honest
- Whether we win or lose, we will remain honest
Chhattisgarh polls: Maoists attack polling booth in Dantewada, officials flee
Probe us, but investigate the funds of the Congress and the BJP too, says Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal
Government probing source of Aam Aadmi Party's foreign funding: Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde
Congress leader and former Revenue Minister of Rajasthan, Hema Ram Chaudhary, has not filed his nomination papers for the assembly polls in the state. According to reports, he is upset over his protege Balaramm being denied a ticket by the Congress. The senior leader has flown to Ahmedabad. Tomorrow is the last date for filing nomination papers in Rajasthan.
I have seen how troubled Rajasthan is. I have full faith that people of Rajasthan will remove the current government who never bothered to look after its people: BJP's Vasundhara Raje
BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, files her nomination from Jhalawar
'BJP workers said we will kill you if you do any more netagiri,' alleges Congress leader from Jagdalpur after being attacked today
Two live bombs recovered from outside a polling booth in Chhattisgarh
Voting begins in the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh
People line up to vote in Chitrakoot in Bastar
Reports of firing in Pakhanjur in Kanker in Chhattisgarh; no casualties reported
Polling begins in the first phase in Chhattisgarh. 18 constituencies in the state will vote today.
BJP leader Vijay Goel:- Sheila Dikshit says there is no evidence of corruption against her.
- The day BJP comes to power, we will show her the proof of corruption from the same files.
- If mobile charges can come down to 30p from Rs16 due to competition among the service providers, then electricity charges can also be brought down.
- The colonies that Delhi government calls 'unauthorised colonies' should be called 'self-made colonies'.
- Govt did nothing to help people who have come from other states, they had no place to stay and that is why they build such colonies.
- Unlike Sheila Dikshit, we don't blame people from other states for the bad condition of Delhi.
Sheila Dikshit on upcoming election:
- People are aware of the changing face of Delhi
- We have changed the face of Delhi- 24 universities, metro, flyovers
- We don't need to remind you of development under our govt
- Party manifesto within 10 days
- Opposition is making empty claims, power prices in Delhi are the lowest of all states
- Opposition always cries corruption. I want to ask them, where is the corruption? Give us evidence of corruption
Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal on upcoming elections: highlights
- By the 15th AAP will form the government in Delhi
- By Dec 29, a special assembly session will be called in Ramlila maidan and the Jan Lokpal bill will be passed.
- All parties have betrayed the people of India on Lokpal PM had written to Anna ji to break his fast and assured that Lokpal bill would be passed
- Two years later, it still hasn't been passed
- Dec 29 is a dark day because on that day, they mocked Anna's Lokpal bill in Parliament
- If you mock the public, the public can throw you out of power
- Annaji does not want to campaign for the party
- Chief Minister isn't important, public will choose the person
- Focus is to get rid of corruption
- BJP and Cong are going to fight and break once tickets are distributed
- We don't have seats but we have candidates
- In our party, those who can't manage seats they come forward and asked to be replaced. They are not fascinated by the candidature
- We will get votes based on the history of BJP and Congress,on how they both have failed here
An Electronic Voting Machine with None Of The Above (NOTA) option to be used in forthcoming assembly elections for the first time
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after the poll panel announced election dates for five states:
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath spekas to NDTV:- NOTA facility was there earlier under rule 49(O) but there was no secrecy.
- Now voters can say 'None of the Above' (NOTA) in secrecy
- Supreme Court has said NOTA to be introduced in a phased manner, we will try to do it for the assembly polls announced
All five assembly polls to feature 'None Of The Above' button
The vacancy about disqualification of convicted MPs to be notified by the House. After that the Election Commission will make arrangements: poll panel chief VS Sampath
Votes for all five states assemblies to be counted on December 8 (Sunday)
SCHEDULE FOR POLLS:
Chhattisgarh: The first state to go out of the polls, will be held in two phases. Elections will be held on November 11 and 19.
Madhya Pradesh: Single phase polls in the state, notification on November 1, polls will be held on November 25
Rajasthan: Polls to be held in single phase, elections will be held on December 1
Delhi: Polls to be held in single phase, elections will be held on December 4.
Mizoram: Polls to be held in single phase, elections will be held on December 4.
Two by-elections to be held in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu on December 4
Election Commissioner V Sampath announces dates for five states - Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram:
- There are 11.3 core voters in all the five states combined
- The model code of conduct of elections comes into affect from now (the announcement of the poll dates)
- All measures in place to conduct free and fair polls, elaborate security arrangements
- Teams to watch for suspicious cash transactions formed
- Total number of polling stations in 5 states is 1.3 lakhs
- Voter ID slips will be distributed by the staff of Election Commission 3-4 days before the date of poll
- Complaint redress mechanism with call centres to deal with all complaints
- For the first time, the poll panel is appointing central awareness observers to motivate voters and encourage voter participation
In 2008 in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP had won 143 seats out of 230 assembly seats and formed the government. The seats won were however lower than what the party had won in 2003 polls; they had won 172 seats then. The congress, on the other hand, improved their position from 2003 poll results in which they had won 39 seats; in 2008 they won 71 seats.
In Rajasthan, there is a direct contest between the BJP and Congress for the 200 assembly seats. In the last state elections, BJP got 78 seats while Congress 96. With the support of 6 BSP MLAs, who later joined the Congress, Ashok Gehlot's party formed the government.