Tag: Rahul Gandhi

Bharat Jodo Yatra

Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Breaks Into Tribal Dance With Gehlot, Kamalnath

By LokMarg

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi matched steps and broke into an impromptu jig with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, and senior party leader Sachin Pilot after his ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ rolled into Rajasthan on Sunday evening.

Rahul and his fellow party colleagues joined in as local artists were presenting a tribal dance performance in Jhalawar.

A video of the impromptu dance performance surfaced on social media, showing Rahul, Gehlot, and Pilot holding hands and dancing with folk artists on the stage.

Later, speaking at the Jhalawar event, Rahul took a customary dig at the BJP and RSS, saying the Congress is a party of Mahatma Gandhi and not of (VR) Savarkar or (Nathuram) Godse.

“This is Mahatma Gandhi’s party, not Savarkar’s or Godse’s. We know how to work hard,” Rahul said.

Earlier on Sunday, before the Congress’ ongoing countrywide foot march reached Rajasthan, a poster war broke out between the loyalists of Gehlot and Pilot. This was after the CM’s followers tried to replace Pilot’s posters in the Jhalawar district.

The incident came took place on Saturday, just days after the party’s national general secretary KC Venugopal held a meeting with the two leaders, who haven’t been seeing eye-to-eye in the recent past.

In a press briefing that followed after, Gehlot and Pilot were seen holding hands as the party tried to project a show of unity amid the ongoing political tussle. Venugopal had claimed that the party was united in Rajasthan.

The press briefing came on the heels of Gehlot calling Pilot a ‘traitor’ who can never become the Rajasthan CM in an interview with a television channel.

The former Rajasthan deputy CM later hit back at Gehlot, calling his accusations ‘baseless’.

On December 3, Pilot released a video asking people to join the yatra when it enters the state. (ANI)

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Bharat Jodo Yatra

Bharat Jodo Yatra Likely To Conclude On Republic Day

By LokMarg

In view of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and state assembly elections, the Congress party has taken a big decision for the selection of a special day for the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

According to sources, in this context, the Congress has decided that the Bharat Jodo Padyatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, will conclude on January 26 in Kashmir covering a distance of about 3500 km.

“In fact, the Congress was going to end this yatra by hoisting the tricolour in Srinagar on February 20, but now under the new strategy, Rahul Gandhi will conclude his yatra by hoisting the tricolour in Srinagar on Republic Day,” said sources.

According to Congress sources, after January 26, a plenary session of the Congress will also be held before February 7, in which the name of Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge will be approved, after which the new Congress Working Committee will be formed.

Immediately after that major changes will also be made in the Congress organisation which have been postponed for a long time. A Meeting of the Steering Committee is also scheduled to be convened on December 4 at Party Headquarters in Delhi and three issues from Bharat Jodo Yatra, Plenary Session and Organizational Matters are on the Agenda, said the Congress sources.

In fact, Congress felt that it was impractical to undertake major organisational programs and changes in the midst of Rahul’s Padayatra while delaying them could harm the party in future elections. That’s why a way has been found by cutting down the time by choosing a favourable day of 26th January for the yatra.

If sources are to be believed, in that case, the target of January 26 will be achieved by increasing the daily distance of the journey a little, reducing the number of days in the coming states like UP, and Delhi and this will not make any difference in the journey. (ANI)

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CM Gehlot Sachin Pilot

CM Gehlot, Sachin Pilot Bury Hatchet: ‘We Stand United’

By LokMarg

Displaying a show of unity in Rajasthan Congress, General Secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday reiterated Rahul Gandhi’s statement describing both Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot as “assets to the party”, while trying to send a message that the party is supreme and the state leaders are united to win the 2023 Assembly elections.

As the rivals stood next to each other holding hands to present the optics days after Ashok Gehlot called Sachin Pilot a traitor, the party sought to send out a message of resolving the ongoing crisis.

“We are united. Here Ashok Ji and Sachin Pilot Ji have said that the Congress party in Rajasthan is united. Rahul Gandhi has clearly stated that both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are assets to the party,” Venugopal said.

Sachin Pilot, whose alleged revolt had triggered the crisis in the state Congress, said that the state is all set to welcome the Bharat Jodo Yatra which will enter the state on December 5.

“Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi will be welcomed with maximum enthusiasm and energy in Rajasthan. The Yatra will spend 12 days in the state. It will be a historic Yatra with the participation of all sections of people,” Pilot said.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the message of the top leadership in Congress goes to the grassroots prompting the leaders to work together.

“Rahul Gandhi said yesterday that Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are assets to the party. It is a specialty of our party that when the message comes from the leader, it goes down till the bottom and we work together for the betterment of the party,” Gehlot said.

Acknowledging the challenge of the 2023 Assembly elections in Rajasthan, the Chief Minister said that it is essential for the party to win elections, adding that the DNA of Congress and the country is the same.

“We have the challenge of the 2023 Assembly elections in Rajasthan. It is essential for us to win the elections, it is for the country’s welfare. If Congress is strong, only then the future of the country will be strong because of the challenge that is before the country for which Indira Gandhi gave up her life, and Rajiv Gandhi was killed attempting to establish peace. Congress and the country have one DNA,” Gehlot said.

The remarks of the Congress General Secretary came during his visit to Rajasthan to review the Bharat Jodo Yatra preparedness.

According to the sources, Venugopal held a meeting of all the state leaders of the party in the State Congress Committee War Room in Jaipur.

“He instructed everyone to remain disciplined,” sources said.

The Chief Minister lauded Rahul Gandhi and Bharat Jodo Yatra and said that the country has accepted the former Congress president’s message during the march.

“The BJP is so worried that they are levelling allegations on the Yatra, and also putting pressure on the media. The way Rahul Gandhi has led the march and the message that he is giving, there is a new ray of hope in the country. The country has accepted the issues that Rahul Gandhi has raised. There can be surprising results in Gujarat,” he said.

The Congress has seen recurrent factionalism in the state with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and party leader Sachin Pilot at loggerheads over the issue of leadership in the state. (ANI)

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Mallikarjun Kharge To Campaign in Gujarat

AICC Chief Kharge To Campaign In Gujarat For Four Days

By LokMarg

With the Gujarat elections round the corner and the first litmus test of Mallikarjun Kharge as Congress president, the grand old party is seeking to boost its poll prospects in the state by addressing about two dozen public meetings.

Mallikarjun Kharge has devised a strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata party, which has been in power for over two decades, in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Congress is gearing up by bringing some of its highest-ranked leaders to campaign in the second phase to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The areas which will witness polling in the second phase in Gujarat hold much importance to Congress as Saurashtra and the tribal belts have been strongholds of the party and the top leaders who will be campaigning in the second phase include Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and a host of senior leaders.

Kharge is scheduled to campaign for two days before the first phase of the Gujarat assembly election that will take place on December 1.

Kharge will also campaign for the second phase in Gujarat on December 1 and 2, the sources said on Saturday

The Gujarat assembly polls have been declared to be conducted in two phases on December 1 and 5 before the announcement of results on December 8.

Voting for 89 assembly seats will take place in the first phase, while for the remaining 93 assembly seat voting will be held in the second phase of polling.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also expected to join and campaign for the party in Gujarat in the second phase of polling.

“His (Rahul Gandhi) tour will however depend on a break in ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’,” they said.

It is pertinent to mention that even after the Congress has got a non-Gandhi president after 24 years in Mallikarjun Kharge and the leader, has plunged in the election campaign in poll-bound states, the dominance of the Gandhi family is visible even after a month of the change of top leader at the AICC.

Kharge’s picture is still missing from the official hoarding board of the Congress headquarters and it is yet to find a place in the rooms of the party’s key office-bearers.

This was not the case when Sonia Gandhi took the leadership role and when Rahul Gandhi became general secretary and later party chief.

Soon after he became president, Kharge started meeting leaders and workers by giving appointments at his home. He also plunged into the electoral campaign for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections.

He has started meeting workers at Congress headquarters between 11 am and 1 pm without an appointment. After Rahul Gandhi resigned as party chief in 2019, this process of meetings came to a virtual standstill, party leaders said.

“Soniaji and Rahulji also used to meet but it all stopped due to the coronavirus. It has started again and people can meet without any prior appointment,” Naseer Hussain, Congress MP, and coordinator attached to Kharge told ANI on November 22.

Kharge has fully taken over but the Congress apparatus is apparently slow to react.

When Sonia became president, her photo was placed on the official board of the party headquarters at 24 Akbar Road in Delhi.

Photos of Sonia along with that of other veteran leaders were put up in the room of every Congress office-bearer at Congress headquarters.

Rahul Gandhi’s photo also made it to the rooms of AICC office-bearers soon after he was appointed general secretary.

His photo was all over the AICC after he became the party chief in 2017 and photos of other members of the Gandhi-Nehru family who have held party posts also adorned the walls.

In fact, Rahul Gandhi’s picture was replaced by that of Sonia on the official board of the party within 24 hours when she became the interim president in 2019. Photos of the two leaders were already in AICC rooms.

Nasir Hussain sought to play down the delay in putting up of Kharge’s photo.

“I have not seen where the picture has not been put up, it has been used in the posters for publicity and manifestos. Rest of the places it will also be put up soon,” he said.

The situation is likely to give ammunition to the BJP to continue attacking the Congress on “family rule”.

Though the Gandhi family has followed the protocol and has extended due courtesies to Kharge, the “Congress system” appears slow to react giving rise to various questions. (ANI)

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Rajiv Shukla about Pakistan Zindabad Slogans

Pakistan Zindabad Slogans In Bharat Jodo Yatra A False Claim: Shukla

By LokMarg

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s claim that the slogan of “Pakistan Zindabad” was raised during Bharat Jodo Yatra was “false”.

“BJP is nervous. The allegation is false. No slogan of Pakistan Zindabad was raised during the yatra,” Shukla said.
Congress leader Rajeev Shukla and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel reached Indore airport today to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Talking about the Yatra, Shukla said that the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra would be successful like other yatras of the past.

“Such yatras have never failed, be it Shankaracharya ji’s yatra, Gandhi’s Dandi March, Chandrashekhar ji’s yatra, YS Rajasekhar’s yatra, all have been successful,” Shukla further said.

A case has been registered in Chhattisgarh against Lokendra Parashar, BJP media in charge of Madhya Pradesh, who posted a video on his Twitter handle alleging that the slogan of Pakistan Zindabad was raised during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Shukla said that the BJP always does “fraud” and that is why they face FIR cases.

BJP leaders alleged participants in Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra shouted slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier on Friday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also claimed that “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans were raised and said that he has ordered a probe into the incident.

‘Pakistan Zinabad’ slogans were openly raised in the Bharat Jodo yatra. It’s shameful, I’ve given orders to probe the incident. Divisive forces are brought into yatra,” CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

A controversy erupted after BJP state president VD Sharma and other party leaders posted a purported video of the yatra on social media claiming that ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans were raised at the rally.

However, Congress Party denied the claims, calling it a conspiracy by the BJP to defame Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo entered Madhya Pradesh on its 77th day of the Padyatra on Wednesday.

Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began on September 7 from Kanyakumari, will cover a further distance of 2,355 km in its 3,570-km march. It will end in Kashmir next year. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress claimed earlier in a statement. Bharat Jodo Yatra is getting support from various political parties and social organizations across the country and the response is increasing day by day. (ANI)

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Rahul Gandhi said BJP Should Apologise

BJP Should Apologise For Using Vanvasi Term: RaGa

By LokMarg

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) should apologise for using the word “Vanvasi” (forest dweller).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a new word in his speech and he called Adivasis as “Vanvasis”.
Gandhi made an announcement that if Congress comes back to power in Madhya Pradesh, the word ‘Vanvasi’ would be abolished and the tribals would be given their rights.

He made the remark while addressing the public gathering during Bharat Jodo Yatra at Tantya Mama’s birthplace, Baroda Ahir village in the Khandwa district. He also garlanded the Tantya Mama’s statue.

He said, “Vanvasi means the tribal is not the first owner of the country. They are the only owner of the forest. They don’t have rights outside the forest. The forests are slowly being cut down and then they will be thrown out of the forest.”

“In MP, most of the atrocities would have been on tribal. Adivasi means first in India. When no one lived in this country then Adivasi used to live here. Tribal is the real owner of this country. They have the first right to land, water, and forest. Their children should get rights. If their child wants to become an engineer or doctor, the government should help them,” the Congress leader added.

“Thinking about Tantya Mama’s name, the first word that comes to mind is revolutionary fearless. But when Tantya Mama was hanged by the British, the RSS was helping the British government,” Gandhi alleged. (ANI)

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Bharat Jodo Yatra Participant

Rahul Gandhi Told Me Bharat Jodo Yatra Is His Tapasya

By LokMarg

Darshan Mondkar, a Pune-based entrepreneur and story-teller, recreates his conversation with Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra’s Maharashtra leg

I joined the (Bharat Jodo) yatra at Degloor when Rahul Gandhi entered into Maharashtra with the ‘Mashaal Walk’. I then walked as a ‘yatri’ from Degloor onwards for the entire day. I spent some time walking with him in the area of Biloli.

My conversation with him went on for about 20 minutes. He took the first couple of minutes to understand me — what I do, what sort of a thought process do I have. He pointed to a policeman in his security who was pushing the crowd behind and asked me, “Do you think this policeman has the right to beat that boy?”

I said, “No.”

He asked, “Why?”

I said, “His job is to protect you and not harm the rights of people.”

“So we have similar thoughts,” he said, and smiled.

“Why are you walking?” I asked.

He asked back: “Do you know the difference between puja and tapasya?”

“Yes, puja is worship and tapasya is penance,” I said.

He replied: “Tapasya comes from the word tup. When you do tapasya you generate heat; the energy which consumes you. It hurts you, it pains you. And, then, you achieve.”

I asked: “But what do you hope to achieve?”

“Your love, your blessings, our unity,” he is steadfast in his thoughts.

“There could have been other ways,” I said.

He explained: “Yes. Sure. I do not want to achieve anything without putting in an effort, without doing tup. Unless it hurts me, it pains me, any achievement is not worth it. This Bharat Jodo Yatra is my tapasya.”

“I am sure you will achieve your mission,” I replied.

He said, “One has to do tapasya without expectations and only then will it be successful. I don’t know whether I will achieve what I have set out to do. But, I will keep burning myself till I do that.”

I tell you. This man is a gem.

ALSO READ: ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra Is A Healing Touch For Nation’

The rest of the conversation revolved around the deep fears that we have in our society in India in contemporary times. He spoke about how we need to overcome the fear within us so that we can become strong voices against the fascism of BJP/RSS.

I was quickly able to understand that he is one of the easiest guy to talk to. He does not try to dominate the conversation and simply goes with the flow. Any apprehensions that I might have had about him totally evaporated.

I am not sure how much of this will translate into votes for the Congress, but, undoubtedly, Rahul Gandhi is being established as a ‘Man of the Moment’ and there is a huge image-revival happening for him which is an added bonus.

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Indeed, one thing that I am sure about the Bharat Jodo Yatra is that it will achieve to rebuild the spirit of ‘Bhaichara’ that we had among us in the country earlier, before the social fabric was ripped apart, starting a decade ago. I am certain of that.

As told to Amit Sengupta

Refuge In Assam After Violence

Himanta’s Saddam Dig For Rahul; Cong Retorts At His Stunt

By LokMarg

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s bearded appearance, which he said resembled that of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Addressing a campaign rally in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, the Assam chief minister said, “If he (Rahul Gandhi) wanted to change his looks, why did not he choose to look like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel or Jawaharlal Nehru? Even Gandhi Ji’s look would have been better, but why is he changing his face to look like Saddam Hussein now?”
Sarma also hit out at the Congress leader’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and said, “Rahul Gandhi is visiting places where there are no elections.”

Soon after the statement of the Assam CM went viral on social media platforms, Congress leaders termed it as a “stunt”.

“You (Assam CM) just want a headline and you get that only when you take Rahul Gandhi’s name. Himanta Biswa Sarma can say anything. He can go to any level for power. We don’t pay attention to such statement,” Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah said while speaking to ANI.

Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas also condemned the Assam CM’s remark against Rahul Gandhi and said, “He (Assam CM Sarma) is the same person who used to praise Rahul Gandhi, and now he is giving such shameful statements and comparing Rahul Gandhi with Saddam Hussein.”

“People like Sarma are criminals and he will never become the Chief Minister again. BJP must learn from Rahul Gandhi. India is in his DNA, and he considers the national flag his religion,” Khachariyawas said. (ANI)

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Raut Praises Rahul gandhi

Raut Praises RaGa Amid Savarkar Row

By LokMarg

After differences emerged between Rahul Gandhi and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction over the Congress leader’s comment on Veer Savarkar, Sanjay Raut appreciated Wayanad MP for enquiring about his health during the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Terming it an act of “humanity”, Sanjay Raut said, “Rahul Gandhi called and checked on me yesterday despite his busy schedule amid Bharat Jodo Yatra. He said we were concerned about your well-being and said take care, we will work together again.”
Sanjay Raut appreciated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s act and said that such gestures are rare in times of political bitterness.

“I appreciate his empathy of feeling the pain of a political colleague who has spent 110 days in jail. In d times of political bitterness, such gestures are becoming rare. Rahulji is focusing on love and compassion in his yatra and is getting massive support,” he tweeted.

Sanjay Raut said that Rahul Gandhi is one such person who stays connected as friends.

“Rahul Gandhi is one such person who stays connected as friends against ideological and political differences. I have friends in BJP as well but they were happy when I was in jail, this is politics of the Mughal era,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, while addressing a press conference in Maharashtra on the sidelines of his ongoing ‘Bhaat Jodo Yatra’, Rahul Gandhi, reading from a letter purportedly written by Savarkar to the British, claimed the saffron ideologue betrayed leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel by signing on a letter of apology to the British before independence.

“Veer Savarkar wrote to the British saying, ‘Sir, I beg to remain your most obedient servant’, and signed on it. Savarkar helped the British. He betrayed leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel by signing this letter out of fear,” he had said.

Rahul’s remarks on Thursday drew a huge backlash, with a complaint being registered against Rahul at Thane Nagar police station.

Sanjay Raut had said Congress leaders in Maharashtra won’t support Rahul Gandhi’s comments on Savarkar. “Coming to Maharashtra and saying things about Savarkar won’t be accepted. Congress leaders won’t support him. Bharat Jodo Yatra is against dictatorship and issues like unemployment, and inflation and Congress is getting support,” Sanjay Raut said.

“Giving such a statement can cause strife in MVA. We believe in Veer Savarkar and we want to ask the fake Hinduvaadi that we are demanding Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar for 10 years. Even though BJP is in power, why are they not fulfilling our demands?” Sanjay Raut had asked.

The remark had drawn outrage from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the party’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra claiming that the statement was consistent with the Congress’ habit of insulting national icons such as Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Patel. (ANI)

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Judiciary, EC, ED, CBI Are Working Under Fear: Gehlot

Cong To Win 125 Seats In Gujarat Polls: Gehlot

By LokMarg

With Rahul Gandhi all set to address his first election rally in Gujarat today, Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday showed confidence in the party doing well in the upcoming Assembly polls stating that the people are “agitated” against the ruling BJP.
Speaking to ANI, Gehlot said, “Congress will do well in these elections because the mood of the public is against BJP for mismanaging COVID and the economy. Our party is looking at winning 125 seats and we are well on course to do that. Opposition to the BJP government this time wasn’t there the last time. People are agitated. The entire country saw the mismanagement during COVID, especially in the state which was strong even before independence.”

“There was Morbi incident. We demanded a fair probe by a sitting or retired judge of HC. But it didn’t happen. Gujarat HC took suo moto cognisance. People died due to illicit liquor. The government’s politics of gimmicks are not going to work, there will be surprising results,” he added.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over their frequent visits to the state lately, Gehlot claimed that they are doing so as the BJP is “being wiped out of Gujarat”.

“Ever since they won UP polls, PM Modi-Amit Shah started coming here (Gujarat) regularly. It means they feel BJP is being wiped out of here. What does it mean if they come here every week? Shows their weak condition. So, both of them set a camp here,” he said.

When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the election campaign in Gujarat, the Congress leader said that the former party president is giving priority to the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“We don’t need to do it. Rahul Gandhi is carrying out the yatra for every state, including Gujarat. Every household knows the issues being raised by him. It wasn’t possible for him to be here physically as he is giving priority to the yatra. He’s coming here today and will speak his mind,” he said.

He also took a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party, which is also in the fray and looking to make inroads into Gujarat, and claimed that the party’s credibility has been reduced.

“Someone should ask Kejriwal why did they suddenly withdraw the campaign from Himachal? They have just propped candidates there. Who knows if they withdraw from here too? Are they colluding with BJP? Their credibility has gone down,” he said.

Gehlot slammed the BJP over the ‘love jihad’ issue and accused the party of doing politics on with an aim to target “one community”.

“It’s an unfortunate incident. It has been given a name and ‘jumla’ has been made. Inter-caste and interfaith marriages have been taking place for a long time now. But politics is being done on the basis of the manner in which one community has been targetted,” he said.

Voting for the two-phased Gujarat Assembly elections will take place on December 1 and 5, and the counting of votes will take place on December 8. (ANI)

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