Elections will be held on time: Fadnavis on reports of early state polls

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday ruled out the possibility of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Maharashtra. His comments come a day after state Congress president Ashok Chavan predicted that elections would be held simultaneously, and asked party workers to be prepared to face the polls.

Fadnavis said his government did not intend to prepone the Assembly polls and added the two elections will be held as per their respective schedules. Making light of Chavan's remarks, the chief minister said the Congress leader had "developed" the habit of predicting future as he was "left with no work" in his party.

"Ashokrao should not hurry into occupying Opposition benches again. We are going to hold the elections on (their respective) time. We do not intend to prepone (the Assembly) polls," Fadnavis told reporters in Palghar district after an event. Addressing a Congress rally in Aurangabad Thursday, Chavan had claimed that Fadnavis would dissolve the state Assembly on February 28 when its session concludes. Chavan reiterated it while speaking to reporters in Pune on Friday. The Lok Sabha polls are due in April-May, while the Assembly polls are likely to be held in October this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)