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As soon as the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday questioned the poll body for delay in announcing Pune and Chandrapur Lok Sabha bypolls.
"Assembly elections of five states were announced today but no announcements have been made by EC on the Lok Sabha by-polls of Pune and Chandrapur. I want to know why," the former Maharashtra minister said. While the Pune Lok Sabha seat fell vacant following the death of its BJP MP Girish Bapat in March this year, elections in Chandrapur are necessitated as Congress Lok Sabha member Suresh Dhanorkar died in May this year. The Election Commission today announced the schedule for assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana. Polls will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. Of the five states, polling in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year. Congress and BJP are the key players in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Telangana is expected to witness a triangular contest between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Congress and BJP. (ANI)
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