Jaipur, October 8: In what is likely to draw sharp political reactions, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been denied permission for a rally in poll-bound Rajasthan on October 9.

The rally, planned in Bharatpur, was denied permission by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jagdish Arya, citing the non-procurement of a no-objection certification from owner of the rally ground. Opinion Poll Predicts Congress to Trounce BJP, Win 142 Seats.

The denial of permission comes in the backdrop of the state Congress committee accusing the BJP-led Rajasthan government of using state machinery for electioneering purpose.

Rajasthan is set for a high-voltage electoral clash as the Election Commission has announced the polling dates in the state. All 200 assembly seats will be contested in a single-phase poll, scheduled on December 7. The results will be declared four days later, on December 11.

While the state-level leaders from either camps are already in poll pitch, the stakes were further raised last Saturday with the rally of nearly 50,000 BJP workers addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ajmer.

Opinion polls have so far given Congress the edge moving into the assembly elections. The latest survey released by ABP News-CVoter predicts the party to win 142 seats, with a 50 per cent vote share. The BJP, meanwhile, is expected to be reduced to 56 constituencies with an electoral share of 34 per cent.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 08, 2018 07:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).