The Congress on Wednesday asserted the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has understood that its exit is certain as the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance is strong and that all its candidates are in a strong position for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot, also an observer of the Congress party for the Maharashtra elections, said that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is aware that its exit is imminent.      

The Congress leader stated that the party is fully prepared and that its ally parties in Maharashtra are strong. He mentioned that the seat-sharing negotiations occurred in a positive atmosphere and that the ruling party has recognized that their exit is inevitable.

“All the candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are in a strong position. The people here have decided to support Congress and its allies in the upcoming Assembly elections,” he said.

He also noted that the alliance’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections was impressive. “Wherever Congress contested, our candidates won 80 percent of the seats. We expect this trend to continue,” he added.

Pilot acknowledged that there have been some differences among party members regarding specific seats but assured that those issues would be resolved in the next 2-3 days, ensuring there would be only one candidate from the MVA for each seat.

Earlier in the day, Ramesh Chennithala, Congress in charge of Maharashtra, slammed the BJP, claiming that the party is undermining its alliances in the state.

“The BJP is dismantling its alliances. They are forcefully converting alliance partner candidates into their own party candidates. The people will respond to this,” he stated while speaking to reporters.

Earlier on October 26, Chennithala alleged that crores of rupees have been reportedly offered to two of its MLAs to join Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, ahead of state Assembly elections.

Chennithala made those allegations while speaking to reporters in the national capital. He also questioned the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Voting for all 288 constituencies for the Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20 and counting on November 23. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday asked residents of the national capital to refrain from bursting firecrackers and light diyas in Diwali, noting that Deepavali is a festival of lights and not firecrackers.

Addressing a press conference, the former Chief Minister said, “Even the Supreme Court and High Court have said that, in light of the pollution, we should refrain from bursting crackers and instead light diyas. This is the festival of lights, not fireworks. It is not about doing anyone a favor. The pollution that occurs will impact our children, so this issue transcends religion. Every life is important.”

This statement comes amid rising air pollution in the national capital. Delhi’s air quality has worsened over the past several days, prompting the Delhi government to implement measures aimed at controlling air pollution, including a crackdown on firecracker usage.

Earlier, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has written to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, urging him to take strict action against violations of the firecracker ban in the national capital.

On October 14, Rai announced a ban on the production, storage, distribution, and use of firecrackers in the city until January 1, 2025.

In his letter, Rai expressed concern that, despite the ban, firecrackers were being openly sold in various markets in Delhi. He noted that these firecrackers were being transported across borders connecting Delhi to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Rai indicated that the Delhi Police, as law enforcement agencies, appeared to be neglecting the directions to enforce the firecracker ban, allowing vendors to openly flout the restrictions.

As of Tuesday, a thin layer of smog covered the National Capital, with parts of Delhi’s air quality remaining in the ‘very poor’ category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 300 around 7:00 am. At Anand Vihar, for instance, the AQI reached 317, while Aya Nagar recorded an AQI of 312—both in the ‘very poor’ category. Jahangirpuri also had a high AQI of 308. In contrast, Chandni Chowk reported better air quality, at an AQI of 191, which is considered ‘moderate.’

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP leaders noted that 108 incidents of stubble burning were recorded in Punjab. They protested against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding air pollution concerns at Kapurthala House. A delegation of leaders sought a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister to submit a memorandum but was unable to meet him.

RJD MP Manoj Jha said on Wednesday that the Election Commission of India has become a part of the agenda after the election body rejected the Congress allegations about irregularities in the recently concluded Haryana Assembly elections.  

Hitting out at the Election Commission, the Rajya Sabha MP said that the ECI must be the custodian of a free and fair election, not the custodian of any machine, not of any paper.

“Congratulations to the Election Commission for being included in the agenda. When the structure of Article 324 was conceived, it was not conceived in the form of a machine or paper custodian but in the form of a free and fair election,” he said.

He added, “If you have even 1% doubt, then what stops you from going back to the ballot? I would like to say that the Chief Election Commissioner, you are the custodian of a free and fair election, not the custodian of any machine, not of any paper.”

The RJD leader’s comment came after ECI rejected allegations made by the Congress party regarding irregularities in the recent Haryana elections, labelling them as baseless, misplaced, and devoid of facts.

In a letter to the Congress party, the Commission urged them to refrain from making unfounded claims after every election, accusing the party of creating generic doubts without substance.

The Election Commission of India has advised Congress to implement strict measures to prevent irresponsible allegations, especially during sensitive periods like polling and counting days. Such claims could lead to public unrest, turbulence, and chaos.

The ECI highlighted five specific cases from the past year and urged Congress, a national party with significant experience, to practice due diligence and refrain from making habitual, evidence-free criticisms of the electoral process.

After a thorough re-verification by returning officers of all 26 contested Assembly constituencies, the ECI wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, confirming that every step in the Haryana electoral process was executed flawlessly and was monitored by Congress candidates or their agents.

In response to Congress’s concerns about the EVM battery display, the ECI clarified that the battery’s voltage and capacity do not affect the voting functionality or integrity of the EVMs.

“The battery status displayed on the control unit is solely for technical teams to monitor power levels, ensuring smooth operation during polling,” the ECI stated.