With the results of the Assembly elections held in the three states of Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh out, the Congress Party has retained power in Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh, but has fallen short of absolute majority in Haryana.

The ruling Congress Party has announced the names of 56 candidates and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it would contest in about 50 seats in the elections to the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly to be held on October 13, 2009.

After some speculations about Mohammad Khatami’s candidacy, the former Iranian president has made the announcement that he will run against the President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the upcoming June 12, 2009 elections.