Cong accuses BJP of curbing the movement of its' leader, blames ATC

The Congress in Maharashtra on Friday accused the ruling BJP of attempting to restrict the movement of its leaders during campaigning for the October 21 assembly polls. State Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant claimed the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) has not been giving timely clearance to jets/helicopters carrying party leaders for campaigning. The ATC has become "Air Traffic Stopper", especially for the Congress, he alleged.

"BJP wants to restrict the movement of our leaders. I have been stranded since yesterday at Solapur airport even Scindia ji. Yesterday's reason for no clearance was PM movement, now no reason," Sawant tweeted.

READ | Maharashtra: CM Devendra Fadnavis projected to win from Nagpur SW

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is scheduled to address election meetings in Kolhapur and Sangli on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed three rallies in Maharashtra on Thursday - at Pune, Parli (Beed district) and Satara. NCP MP Amol Kolhe had on Thursday alleged the helicopter he was to ride was denied flying permission by the air defense control in view of Modi's rally in Pune, leading to the cancellation of his campaign meetings in the district. In a video message, the NCP's star campaigner had said he was to address poll meetings in Bhosari, Pimpri, and Chinchwad in Pune district but was denied flying permission citing protocol in view of the prime minister's rally.

READ | Maharashtra: Congress' Nana Patole projected to lose Sakoli election

Seat Share projections for Maharashtra

As per the Jan Ki Baat poll, BJP is projected to get 142 to 147 seats and an average of 143 seats. The Shiv Sena is likely to bag 83 to 85 seats and average of 84 seats. The Congress is projected to get 21 to 23 seats and an average of 22 seats. The NCP is projected to get 27 to 29 seats or 28 seats at an average. Based on the projections, both BJP and Shiv Sena are expected to gain an average of 20 seats each. The BJP and Shiv Sena during the 2014 assembly polls had won 122 and 63 seats respectively. Whereas, the number of seats won by Congress is likely to nosedive from 42 in the 2014 assembly polls to an average of 22 seats. Similarly, NCP's seat shares are likely to plow down from 41 in the previous assembly polls to an average of 28 seats.

READ | NDA's Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi & Paswan campaign together in Bihar

READ | Maharashtra: BJP-Sena could gain 20 seats each, Congress-NCP nosedive