CLAIM
“U need 273 seats for a mandate!
Congress is contesting for 230 seats only!
SP 37 BSP 37 RJD 20 TMC 42
It means no other party is contesting to form a Govt. They are fighting just to stop BJP from getting a clear mandate and cripple the nation! Don't waste your vote.”
The above message has been doing rounds on social media Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp at the time when the Lok Sabha 2019 elections are underway.
The message claims that parties like Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Trinamool Congress are not contesting to get majority and form a government, rather their only aim is to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party from getting a “clear mandate”.
Website Postcard co-founder Mahesh Hegde, who is also followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also shared the same claim in his tweet which was retweeted over 1,700 times.
The claim also went viral on Facebook with multiple users sharing it.
According to an ANI report, Union Minister Smriti Irani while in Amethi said “By fighting in just approximately 20 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP, Congress leaders have themselves accepted they don't have the strength to fight and win in the state. Why then should you side with the Congress, come and vote for BJP”.
FACT
The viral claim is fake and misleading.
Congress' declared list of candidates stands at 407. Not only that, but the party has fielded 66 candidates in Uttar Pradesh as opposed to Irani's statement to ANI.
While the SP is contesting on 37 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the BSP is going for 38 seats in the state.
The RJD is fielding its candidates on 20 seats in Bihar, whereas TMC has 42 candidates contesting in West Bengal, three in Jharkhand, one in the Andamans and six in Assam. It will also field two candidates each in Bihar and Odisha.
The party candidates would also try their luck in 10 Assembly constituencies of Odisha. The state is witnessing simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
Also, a total of 272 seats are required to form a government or coalition government if a single party fails to score majority of the seats.
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