Bhopal: The Election Commission of India will begin counting of votes for Madhya Pradesh election results at 8 am. The exit polls have predicted a neck-and-neck battle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress for the 230-member house.
Track live updates on assembly election results here.
The election was held in the state on November 28 and 75% of the 5.03 crore voters exercised their franchise. At least 2,716 candidates are contesting for the 200 seats.
The Congress and BJP poll campaign was led by party president Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, respectively. The Congress had appointed veteran Kamal Nath as the Madhya Pradesh party chief in April, and named Jyotiraditya Scindia as the campaign leader.
In the 2013 polls, BJP had bagged 165 seats while Congress and BSP got 58 and 4. Three seats went to the independents. The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for last 15 years.
BJP leads in 58 seats, Congress in 67
BJP is leading in 58 seats, Congress in 67, BSP in five and others in two, according to latest trends.
BJP leads in 46 seats, Congress in 40
BJP is leading in 46 seats, Congress in 40, BSP in two and others in two, according to latest trends. At least 2,716 candidates are contesting for the 200 seats. BJP leading in Sihora and Narsingarh, according to the Election Commission of India.
BJP will form government in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh: BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya
Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP: We'll definitely form government in Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh. Seeing the early trends coming from Rajasthan, we believe BJP will form a government there as well. #AssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/PUr9gnV4a6
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018
BJP leading in 32 seats, Congress in 34
BJP is leading in 32 seats, Congress in 34, BSP in one and others in two, according to latest trends. As many as 2,907 candidates are in fray for the assembly polls.
Congress will form government in MP, says Digvijay Singh
“It’s too early. Anything can be said only after 12 pm. Leads of only postal ballots have come till now. I am confident that in Madhya Pradesh, Congress will form government. We have favourable situation in Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh also,” ANI quoted senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh as saying.
BJP, Congress neck-and-neck
Congress leads in 18 assembly seats, BJP in 19, according to latest trends. The exit polls had predicted a close contest between the two parties.
BJP, Congress lead in 12 seats each
BJP and Congress are leading on 12 seats each, according to latest trends. In the exit polls, Times Now-CNX had predicted 126 seats for the BJP and 89 for the Congress. The ABP News exit poll said Congress will be the winner with 126 seats and BJP will bag 94 assembly constituencies.
Congress, BJP battle it out
Congress is ahead in five seats, BJP in four, according to initial trends. The maximum rounds of counting -- 32 in total -- are taking place in the Indore-5 assembly segment due to the highest number of booths there. The lowest number of counting rounds (15) are in Kotma seat in Anuppur district. Indore-5 seat is currently held by the BJP while the Congress represents Kotma constituency.
Maximum rounds of counting in Indore
The maximum rounds of counting -- 32 in total -- are taking place in the Indore-5 assembly segment due to the highest number of booths there. The lowest number of counting rounds (15) are in Kotma seat in Anuppur district. Indore-5 seat is currently held by the BJP while the Congress represents Kotma constituency.
BJP ahead in three seats
BJP ahead in three seats, Congress in two, according to early trends, reports LiveHindustan.com. All eyes are on Madhya Pradesh election results. Political parties raced to woo voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed 10 public meetings in the state, while BJP president Amit Shah held 26 public meetings and three road shows in the run-up to the elections.
Strict vigil for counting process
■ Around 15,000 employees have been drafted for the counting process, which will be monitored through 1,200 CCTV cameras installed at 51 centres across the state, according to Madhya Pradesh chief electoral officer VL Kantha Rao.
Smaller parties in focus
■ The focus is on smaller parties and independent candidates and senior leaders in both parties confirmed on condition of anonymity that they were working on permutations and combinations to finalise plans to ensure they could get their support to form government if required.
Key candidates and battles
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is hoping to retain power for the fourth time in a row.
The Congress and the BJP are likely to face a tough fight from Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP). The BJP fielded candidates for all 230 seats while the Congress contested 229, leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for the Sharad Yadav-led Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD).
All the leaders contesting the polls, including former Union ministers Suresh Pachauri and Arun Yadav. Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh is contesting from Churhat.
Kamal Nath on Monday expressed confidence that Congress will win more than 140 seats. “We will win more than 140 seats. Wait till tomorrow; everything will be clear by then.”
Shivraj Singh Chouhan had, too, expressed confidence of the BJP winning the election.