Bjp, congress say they are ready for the battle, have almost finalised probable candidates

“We are absolutely ready for elections,” claimed state party president Siddharth Patel soon after the Election Commission announced the dates for the Lok Sabha elections, on Monday afternoon. The same level of confidence that the chief had exuded, interestingly seems to percolate down to even the party’s rank and file. Conservative estimates in the party claim Congress should be happy if it rakes in six to seven of the 26 seats in the state. However, a major section of workers, buoyed by Rahul Gandhi’s visits, currently feels that getting 13-15 seats too may not be a tall order if the momentum is maintained.

The Election Commission on Monday announced five-phase polling starting April 16 for the 15th Lok Sabha. The model code of conduct comes into effect immediately.

Third Front resurrected Cong will tie up with SP & Mamata nBJP ropes in RLD in UP

With former prime minister and Janata Dal (S) chief HD Deve Gowda announcing the rebirth of the Third Front on Monday, the battle for the 15th Lok Sabha has taken a new turn. A two-horse race has become a faceoff between three patchy alliances, one led by the Congress, the second by the BJP and the third by the Left. The election Commission has announced a five-phase poll starting on April 16 and ending on May 13. Results will pour in from May 16.

Jitendra is in charge of energy in latest portfolio reshuffle

Shanti Kumar Dhariwal is the new home minister of Rajasthan and Jitendra Singh the energy minister. Two days after his first cabinet expansion, chief minister Ashok Gehlot reshuffled the portfolios among his team on Monday lavishing Dhariwal with some important departments that he had kept with himself, until now.

Gehlot who earlier had 38 ministries with him has retained finance, planning and civil aviation portfolios. After the reshuffle, he now has 12 ministries with him.

The Lok Sabha elections for the 25 parliamentary seats in Rajasthan will be held on May 7.

Polling would be held in the entire state in a single phase on the above-mentioned day as per the Election Commission (EC) of India. The counting of ballots in Rajasthan along with those of other states would be done on May 16 to declare the results for the 15th Lok Sabha.

Immediately after the EC declared the schedule of the general elections, chief electoral officer of Rajasthan Vinod Zutshi imposed the model code of conduct in the state, thereby restraining the government from making any political announcements and issuing fresh transfers or postings to its employees.