With the Election Commission (EC) announcing the schedule for assembly polls in five states, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying the “party’s farewell has also been announced”.

“With the announcement of elections in 5 states, the farewell of BJP and its allies has also been announced. In Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram, the Congress party will go to the people with strength,” he said on X.

“Public welfare, social justice and progressive development are the guarantees of the Congress Party,” he added.

Also Read: Assembly elections 2023: Polls in five states from November 7-30, results on December 3

Meanwhile, Kharge’s party colleague and Congress MP Randeep Surjewala said,”People in all these 5 states will take BJP out of power and prove that a huge change will come in the country in 2024. 8.5 crore people in Madhya Pradesh are ready to remove BJP. MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is tired and retired.”

Five states of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on different days from November 7-30 and votes will be counted on December 3, the Election Commission said on Monday, setting the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls semi-finals.

Also Read: Mizoram Election Date 2023: Voting on November 7, results to be announced on December 3

The Congress had come to power in Madhya Pradesh in 2018 after winning 114 seats and formed the government under Kamal Nath. However, his government was reduced to minority after MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned and joined the BJP. In 2020, Nath resigned ahead of the floor test and the saffron party returned to power under Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Election Commission has announced that the election 230 seats of Madhya Pradesh assembly will be held on November 17.

The grand old party is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and is hoping to repeat its 2018 success. While Chhattisgarh will go to polls in two phases on November 7 and 17, Rajasthan votes on November 23.

Also Read: Rajasthan Election Date 2023: Voting on November 23, results to be announced on December 3

In the northeastern state of Mizoram, the Congress is eyeing a return to power. In 2018, the Mizo National Front had ended its 10-year-long rule. This time, Mizoram goes to poll on November 7.

The southern state of Telangana has been ruled by K Chandrashekar Rao’s BRS (formerly TRS) since its inception in 2014. In the previous election held in 2018, KCR’s party had swept the election by winning 88 of 119 seats. Telangana goes to poll on November 30.

(With inputs from PTI)