Assembly Elections 2018 LIVE: EC to Announce Dates for 4 States Shortly, Telangana May Have to Wait Longer

The SP's move comes days after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati parted ways with the Congress, alleging that the Rahul Gandhi-led party was adopting a stubborn attitude and it was out to finish her party.

"We have waited too long for the Congress. How much longer should we wait? We will now consult the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), with which we had an alliance, and the BSP for the coming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh," SP president Akhilesh Yadav said here. Yadav had asked the Congress to show large- heartedness for the upcoming elections as any delay will prompt smaller parties to declare their candidates.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) said it has "waited too long" for the Congress and will now "consult" the BSP and the Gondwana Gantantra Party for the Madhya Pradesh polls. The SP's move comes days after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati parted ways with the Congress, alleging that the Rahul Gandhi-led party was adopting a stubborn attitude and it was out to finish her party.

Shah launched the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' from the Rajwada area and sought support from the people for his party in the upcoming polls.

The Election Commission will shortly announce the poll dates in four states of rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh.

PM Modi in Ajmer rally said that the government is working for women's welfare. "We are committed to ensure welfare of women and mothers who are working. That is why we have decided to give 26 weeks maternity leave to them,"  the PM said. 

“Today, farmers, Adivasis, Dalits and minorities are exploited. One by one their rights are being taken away from them. On one side there is BJP, on the other side are the marginalised and the Congress party standing with them. Farm loan waiver will provide relief to farmers but it will not end their woes. The solution is to transform the lives of farmers with the Green and white revolution. The two revolutions have empowered farmers and strengthened the nation. Empowering each individual has enabled us to compete against global superpowers like USA,” says Rahul Gandhi.

PM Modi lashed out at Congress party saying that they were not proud of soldiers for the surgical strike on Pakistan. "There would be no Indian who would not be proud of our jawans and the surgical strike they conducted. But look at Congress. They even mocked our jawans," PM said. 

BJP's Mass Contact Programme in MP | BJP president Amit Shah has formally launched the party's mass contact campaign in the Malwa-Nimad region of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. Shah launched the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' from the Rajwada area and sought support from the people for his party in the upcoming polls.

Promising to uplift the poor and tribals, Rahul Gandhi says in Morena that Congress will get a bill to protect their rights. “If we come to power, we will bring the tribal bill into force. I have always thought of people's rights in all my actions,” he said.

“The sad part is that the rights we gave you was snatched by BJP governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Rafale deal given to HAL would've created hundreds of jobs in India. But PM Modi steals this from HAL and gives the Rs 30,000 crore-contract to Anil Ambani's company. That amount would have helped to implement MNREGA in the entire country. More than ₹3,00,000 crore is written off of 15-20 industrialists, but why can't the same money be used to help farmers, Adivasis?,” says Rahul Gandhi while launching a scathing attack on PM Modi.

"In a healthy democracy, a strong opposition is needed. But, we have a set of people who not only failed in Government for 60 long years but also have failed as an Opposition," Modi said while addressing the rally in Ajmer. 

In BJP's rally in Rajasthan, PM Modi took a jib at Congress saying the leaders are busy serving one family. "No wonder they do not have the time to come to the State Assembly or raise issues concerning Rajasthan, women empowerment, other development issues," he said.  

Hitting out at the BJP government over Nirav Modi’s ‘planned’ escape, Rahul Gandhi said that the amount allocated by Congress to MNREGA is the same stolen by the diamond trader. “Congress allocated ₹35,000Cr to MNREGA. But BJP is taking away all the funds allocated to this scheme. Today, the amount allocated by Congress to MNREGA is the same stolen by Nirav Modi,” he said.

If the parties who do vote bank politics comes to power, they divide the government officers too according to their politics & provides posts only to those who fit their vote bank politics,PM Modi said, addressing the rally in Ajmer. 

Ahead of elections in Rajasthan, PM Modi has said that BJP does not believe in division of society on the basis of religion. 

Congress chief is also addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh. Attacking the Modi government, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena that Vijay Mallya fled with Rs 9,000 crore. “Before fleeing he met the finance minister in the Parliament and told him that he's going to London. FM didn't alert police, ED or CBI. Farmers fight for their rights and you put them in jails. But you don't take action against man who flees with Rs 9,000 crore,” he said.

Pointing towards Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said that some people think that they can change the course of their politics with a hug. PM Modi is addressing a rally in Ajmer of poll bound Rajasthan. 

PM Modi called himself a people's PM and a BJP worker. 

I am Prime Minister for the nation, but a worker for the @BJP4India. So wherever I am invited, even if at a booth level meeting, I will be present: PM @narendramodi #VijaySankalpWithPM pic.twitter.com/XZJfyO3avt

— BJP LIVE (@BJPLive) October 6, 2018

Reiterating his slogan "Sabka Sath Sabka Vikaas", PM Modi said that vote bank politics is detrimental for the development. He also said that the BJP has worked for uniting the pople and not dividing them on the basis of religion or caste. 

Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Ajmer, PM Modi has said that he is only a worker of BJP and called himslef a people's PM. 

Prime minister Narendra Modi is addressing the rally in Rajasthan's Ajmer, kicking off the campaign in the poll-bound state. 

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje has announced free electricity for farmers in Ajmer rally. PM Modi is also addressing the rally in poll bound Rajasthan. 

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Ajme  to address a public rally on the culmination of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra. On his arrival from New Delhi, Modi was welcomed by Raje at the Jaipur airport. He then left for Ajmer in a helicopter, which has reached near the rally venue at Kayad Vishram Sthali on the Ajmer-Jaipur highway. This is the first political rally of the prime minister in Rajasthan, where Assembly polls will be held later this year. Tight security arrangements have been made for the rally which is estimated to be attended by nearly three lakh people. 

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati announced early this week that her party would not forge an alliance with the Congress "at any cost" for the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, dealing a blow to the opposition's efforts to stitch a united front against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, BJP state president Madan Lal Saini and other leaders reviewed on Friday the preparations for the rally to be held at Kayad Vishram Sthali on the outskirts of Ajmer where party leaders claimed nearly three lakh people would come.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress  chief Sachin Pilot has said the prime minister remembers the city only at the time of elections. He also accused Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of misleading the prime minister on the state of affairs in Rajasthan. "Modiji is coming to Ajmer, but he remembers the city only at the time of elections. He visits Ajmer to seek votes, Pilot told PTI. Raje would have indeed misled the prime minister on development in Ajmer, he added.

Poll bound Madhya Pradesh is all set to welcome Congress chief Rahul Gandhi where he will be addressing a rally. Posters have been put up at several places welcoming him. 

Madhya Pradesh: Posters seen in Jabalpur ahead of Congress President Rahul Gandhi's visit, where he will perform the Narmada Puja, today. He will also address a public gathering in Jabalpur. pic.twitter.com/5WE6TSOxGf

— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018

The BJP had lost the Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency to Congress in bypolls held earlier this year. It  is now trying to build a favourable atmosphere and mood among the voters by holding the rally of Modi, who had addressed an election rally in Ajmer in 2013 also. The Congress had won the Ajmer Lok Sabha seat by defeating BJP's Ramswaroop Lamba who is the son of former Ajmer MP Sanwar Lal Jat. The seat went to bypoll after the then sitting MP Sanwar Lal Jat died due to cardiac arrest last year. The assembly elections in Rajasthan are due later this year.

The party workers in Rajasthan are "geared up and filled with enthusiasm" for the rally, BJP leader  Onkar Singh Lakhawat said. The "historic" rally is expected to be attended by a huge audience in Ajmer. Ajmer District Collector Arti Dogra has said the prime minister will arrive in a helicopter at Kayad Vishram Sthali from Jaipur at 1 pm and return to Jaipur after the programme. There is no schedule for Brahma temple visit in Pushkar, she asserted.