RNI No.2016/1957, REGD NO. SSP/LW/NP-34/2016-18 Follow us on: @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/dailypioneer instagram.com/dailypioneer/ Established 1864 Late City Vol. 154 Issue 270 Published From *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable NATION 5 WORLD 7 SPORT 10 DELHI LUCKNOW BHOPAL MAHAGATHBANDHANS TRIED, POMPEO EYES PROGRESS PAK TO FACE BHUBANESWAR RANCHI OVER TRUMP-KIM SUMMIT AUSTRALIA IN 1ST TEST RAIPUR CHANDIGARH TESTED, FAILED IDEAS: JAITLEY DEHRADUN LUCKNOW, SUNDAY OCTOBER 7, 2018; PAGES 12+8 `3 www.dailypioneer.com USUALSUSPECTS EC announces poll dates for 5 States SWAPAN DASGUPTA Chhattisgarh goes to election in two phases on Nov 12, Nov 20; MP, Mizoram on 2019 poll crucial for Cong Nov 28; polling in Rajasthan, Telangana on Dec 7; results to be out on Dec 11 PNS n NEW DELHI before India dumps its ilk adhya Pradesh, MChhattisgarh and t is entirely possible to be sympathetic to the argument Mizoram will go to polls in Iemanating from the Congress camp that the alliance talks November, while Rajasthan with the Bahujan Samaj Party in Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana in December. Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan broke down on account of The Election Commission (EC) Mayawati’s exaggerated demands for seats. From a purely on Saturday announced the psephological angle, the BSP seems to have insisted on polling dates for the five States, seats where its presence was nominal and where it had little the results of which will set the hope of winning. The Congress, or so the argument goes, tone for the 2019 Lok Sabha could therefore hardly be faulted for abandoning all hope for elections. a mahagathbandhan in these three States. While Naxal-affected That part of the story seems correct, although Congress Chhattisgarh will go to polls in president Rahul Gandhi is still optimistic that when it comes two phases on November 12 to the 2019 general election, Mayawati will be on board. It is (18 seats) and November 20 (72 difficult to ascertain at this stage whether or not Rahul’s seats), the Madhya Pradesh Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat flanked by Election Commissioners Sunil confidence is warranted. What is certain, however, is that the and Mizoram Assembly elec- Arora (L) and Ashok Lavasa (R) addresses a Press conference to announce the Congress has to appear optimistic if it is to translate its tions will be held on November dates for Assembly elections in five States, in Delhi on Saturday PTI internal self-confidence into a public belief that a Congress- 28. Polling in Rajasthan and led alliance is in with a chance. Telangana, whose Chief stituencies which will go to which is out to challenge the It is worth mapping the shifts in the Congress narrative Minister K Chandrsekhar Rao polls in the first phase and the BJP’s rule in the States even over the past few months. had dissolved the Assembly last remaining 72 constituencies while protecting its last bastion In the wake of the BJP’s defeat in five important month, will be held on will go to polls in the second in the North-East. Mizoram is parliamentary by-elections — two in Rajasthan and three in December 7. The counting of phase. Life of each and every the only remaining State in the Uttar Pradesh — the Congress went out of its way to show votes will be held across all the voter is precious for us, which North-East, which is not under that it was willing to be extra accommodative in the interests five States on December 11. is why we are being cautious,” the rule of BJP-led NDA. The of a grand alliance. This was particularly so after traditional With the EC’s announce- the CEC said. eight North-East States togeth- rivals Samajwadi Party and BSP stitched up alliances for the ment, the model code of con- These five Assembly elec- er have 25 Lok Sabha seats. by-elections and inflicted defeats on the BJP, defeats that duct has come into effect in tions would be crucial for the Mizoram’s 50-member were particularly humiliating for UP Chief Minister Mahant four States. The code of con- BJP as it gears up for the Lok House expires on December Adityanath. Responding to reservations voiced by the likes of duct is already in place in Sabha election next year and is 15, 2018, Chhattisgarh’s Mamata Banerjee, the Congress let it be known that it had no Telangana since the Assembly in power in three of these Assembly, comprising 90 mem- objection to the grand alliance approaching the general was dissolved. The election States — Rajasthan, Madhya bers, ends on January 5, 2019, election without an obvious captain. The important thing was will be held using the latest Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. the tenure of the Madhya to defeat the BJP and the rest would follow painlessly. Mark III EVM, VVPAT While the Congress is in power Pradesh 230-member House On the face of it that narrative has not been abandoned. machines in all the States. in Mizoram, Telangana Rashtra expires on January 7, 2019, and In his interaction at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit Announcing the poll dates, Samithi ruled Telangana before the 200-member Rajasthan last Friday, he repeated Chief Election Commissioner the Assembly was dissolved. House comes to an end on The outcome of 2014 was terrible that a Prime Minister would (CEC) OP Rawat said the elec- The BJP is trying for a January 20, 2019. news for a tribe that has always be chosen after the tions in Chhattisgarh would be fourth term in Madhya Pradesh On September 6, KCR had made hay while there are dark election. However, he held in two phases because and Chhattisgarh and to retain dissolved the Telangana House clouds over India. Modi deprived added that he was quite some areas in the State were power in Rajasthan. The three to avoid a possible clubbing of ready to assume charge if affected by Left-wing extrem- States also played a significant Assembly polls with the Lok them of their livelihood by securing needed. ism. “The Assembly con- role for the BJP in the 2014 Sabha elections. a majority. The 2019 election is BJP will have a record victory The Prime Minister is “putting pressure” The ruling TRS Part of this shift could stituencies going to polls in the general elections when it had CEC Rawat said the elec- on the basis of its hard work on the EC to delay its Press conference. He welcomed the their last before India moves to a be attributed to dispelling first phase of Assembly elec- won 62 out of the 65 Lok Sabha toral rolls for Telangana will be and development measures said the CEC's explanation is announcement of different trajectory altogether fears that Rahul is at the tions in Chhattisgarh are affect- seats in these three States. published on October 12. besides the performance of “preposterous” and wondered schedule for the end of the day a casual ed by Left-wing extremism The elections also hold Turn to Page 6 its Governments in the three States whether BJP is the “super EC” Legislative Assembly politician who can’t do violence. There are 18 con- significance for the Congress, Related reports on P5, P6 Ravi Shankar Prasad Randeep Singh Surjewala polls in Telangana without his occasional short breaks and a mandatory summer vacation, preferably to the First World. During both the terms of the UPA Government he didn’t accept any line responsibility, although that could be on account of the family convention of not ever working in a subordinate role. To be BJP gloats as SP does a Maya on Cong Sharad Pawar won’t Prime Minister or, at least, to be seen to be a credible claimant, Rahul has to display both awareness and gravitas. PNS n NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW SP CAN'T WAIT ANY At present his prime ministerial preparation is work in fight 2019 LS polls progress. He seems to swing between rash impetuosity and lose on the heels of the LONGER FOR TIE-UP passable scripted interventions. CBahujan Samaj Party (BSP) WITH CONG IN MP: Mumbai: NCP president At the same time, it is important to record that the announcing to go it alone Sharad Pawar will not contest Congress has not reconciled itself to keeping the leadership instead of forging an alliance AKHILESH the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, of the proposed mahagathbandhan open-ended. The party’s with the Congress in Madhya party leader Jitendra Ahwad well drafted resolution issued at Sevagram, Wardha, calling Pradesh and Rajasthan, the said here on Saturday. for a second freedom struggle to oust the Narendra Modi Samajwadi Party (SP) too on Putting to rest speculation Government is extremely revealing. According to the Saturday said it has “waited for running discussion among the that Pawar will contest from resolution, the Congress is the “only” party that “truly too long” for the grand old Opposition parties for striking Pune Lok Sabha seat, Ahwad embodies the ethos of Bharat that is fundamentally inclusive, party to respond and would a grand national alliance told reporters that Pawar had liberal, secular and assimilation of India’s pluralities and look at the non-Congress out- against the BJP-led-NDA could already made it clear in 2014 diversities.” fits in Madhya Pradesh, includ- only help inspire an “opti- that he will not contest the Lok The inclusion of “only” is quite deliberate and significant. ing the BSP, for a pre-poll seat mism” in the ranks of the BJP Sabha polls again. It suggests two things.