"Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh Governments Will Fall": Rahul Gandhi's Big Gaffe

The BJP on Monday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over a slip of the tongue that his party's governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were on their way out, and said he had accepted defeat. Soon after the announcement of the election schedule in five states, Mr Gandhi while replying to a question on the party's prospects said the governments in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh were going.

"In Madhya Pradesh, their state government is going, the government is also going in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and also in Telangana. Sorry, I spoke wrongly. You confused me," Mr Gandhi said and soon corrected himself.

"In Chhattisgarh, we have our government and it is coming back as also in Rajasthan. but BJP's government in Madhya Pradesh is going. In Telangana too their (BRS) government is going and ours is coming. Seriously speaking, the atmosphere is very positive," he said.

Posting a video clip of Mr Gandhi's remarks on its "X" handle, the BJP wrote, "Rahul Gandhi has accepted that the Congress governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are on their way out." Several BJP leaders also shared the video clip on their X handles.

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram will go to the assembly polls between November 7 and 30.

The Election Commission on Monday announced that single-phase assembly polls will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30, and Mizoram on November 7 while Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats).