'Congress will win less than five seats...': Kejriwal's bold Gujarat claim

Gujarat will vote in two phases - on December 1 and December 5. Results will be released on December 8 - with those from Himachal Pradesh.

Updated on: Nov 5, 2022, 17:52:17 IST

By HT News Desk

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The Congress will get fewer than five seats in Gujarat, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal declared Saturday. Speaking at a media conclave hosted by India Today in the national capital, the AAP boss panned his rival's chances ahead of next month's polls and asked 'who takes the Congress seriously'.

Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (HT file)

"The people of Gujarat need change. If people did not want change, we would not have got any space. We are getting a 30 per cent vote share. We formed a government in Punjab. There is something different in Gujarat as well," he said.

"In Gujarat, Congress will win less than 5 seats. We are number two," Kejriwal said, handing over - quite dramatically - a scrap of paper with that prediction.

He made a similarly dramatic showing at a NDTV event where he refused to predict the BJP's tally. "Remaining predictions will be made another day."

Earlier today a pre-poll survey by ABP News - C-Voter gave the ruling BJP yet another win in prime minister Narendra Modi's home state.

READ | Gujarat election 2022: BJP to win another term, AAP to beat Cong

Over half the nearly 23,000 respondents said they planned to vote for the BJP. Twenty per cent favoured the AAP and 17 per cent the Congress.

In a state that usually sees a BJP v Congress fight, the suggestion that the AAP could replace the Congress as the primary opposition party has raised eyebrows.

Kejriwal's party on Friday declared former TV news anchor and social activist Isudan Gadhvi as its chief ministerial candidate, after a 'poll' of the public similar to the exercise that named Bhagwant Mann as the CM face in Punjab.

READ | ‘If you want to clean rot…’: AAP's Isudan Gadhvi on what Kejriwal said

Gujarat will vote in two phases - on December 1 and December 5. Results will be released on December 8 - with those from (also) BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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