In what has become a semi-final clash for the political parties ahead of the summit clash during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, both the BJP and Congress have been wooing the voters in five states that are hosting the assembly polls. The five states are Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram and the results for these elections will be declared on December 3. 

In three states- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the top two rivals BJP and Congress are in a direct race and of these three states, Madhya Pradesh is being ruled by the BJP while Congress is in power in the rest two states. Though poll promises from the political parties aren't unusual, the BJP has made some weird promises in some of these poll-bound states to seek votes. 

Telangana is heading for the assembly polls on November 30 and ahead of releasing BJP's election manifesto in the state, veteran BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised the voters in Telangana that if BJP wins and comes to power, it will take them to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya free of cost. According to reports, Amit Shah had addressed a public meeting in Gadwal, Telangana on Saturday during which he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the construction of the Ram Mandir. 

Amit Shah said, "Congress was unjustly delaying the Ram Mandir construction for 70 years. The Modi government is set to open the temple for the public on January 22, 2024. Don't you all, especially the women, want to visit the temple for darshan? Won't that cost you? But, don't worry. Vote the lotus into power and BJP Telangana will ensure that by turns, everyone will get to visit the Ram Mandir free of cost." 

While Amit Shah has laid down a religious propaganda in Telangana, senior BJP leader and Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri went on to issue a promise to the voters in Rajasthan that if BJP comes to power in the state, the price of petrol will be slashed by Rs 11.80 per litre. Addressing an election rally in Jaipur, Puri said he is being asked what will change if the BJP comes to power in Rajasthan and said once the BJP forms government in the state, they will work towards reducing petroleum prices in the state at part with the rest of the country. 

The minister further said, "Petrol will be cheaper by at least Rs 11.80 per litre if BJP is elected in the state." He claimed that the fuel prices were highest in Rajasthan in the country due to additional cess imposed by the Congress government in the state. Puri said that the Ashok Gehlot government, over the last couple of years, has collected Rs 35,975 crore from additional levies on petrol and diesel.

"Rajasthan alone collected Rs 2,000 crore more than 18 other states and Union Territories taken together. The average rate of petrol across the country is Rs 96.72 per litre. But, in Ganganagar, Rajasthan, the petrol price is Rs 113.34 per litre", Puri added. It is pertinent to note that Rajasthan assembly polls will be held on November 25.