The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expanded its footprint across Madhya Pradesh and found the means to retain government by winning 16 seats and maintaining its lead in three others by 10 p.m. as results for the byelection trickled in on Tuesday.
Of the 28 contested seats, the Congress had won 27 and the BJP one in the 2018 Vidhan Sabha election. But the Congress this time won just five seats while leading in four others, and secured 40.3% of the vote, much less than the BJP’s 49.5% vote.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the State’s people and he had a relation of affinity. “I had complete faith the BJP will secure a massive victory. Wherever we trail, we are behind only by marginal votes”.
In Gwalior-Chambal region
While riding on the popularity of Rajya Sabha member Jyotiraditya Scindia, who switched over to the BJP from the Congress in March, the BJP has made significant inroads in the Gwalior-Chambal region, his traditional stronghold. Resignations by 25 Congress MLAs since March and deaths of three sitting MLAs precipitated the byelections.
In the region’s 16 seats, which Mr. Scindia’s supporters are now contesting as BJP candidates, the BJP won six seats in the Gwalior region, and won one seat and led in two in the Chambal region until 10 p.m.. The share for Mr. Scindia’s supporters, who won all the seats in the region in 2018, appeared to be shrinking by seven seats.
While congratulating the winners, Mr. Scindia wrote on Twitter, “I have complete faith that you all winners will always be ready for public service and the complete development of their Vidhan Sabha constituencies.”
In the Chambal region, the Congress won three seats to deal a blow to Minister Aidal Singh Kansana and MLAs Raghuraj Singh Kansana and Ranveer Jatav, supporters of Mr. Scindia who switched over to the BJP in March. Whereas, Minister Imarti Devi trailed behind Congress’ Suresh Raje from Dabra in the Gwalior region.
Meanwhile State Congress president and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath said he would respect the mandate and thank the voters.
“While accepting the mandate, we will play the role of the opposition, always stand for the interest of the State and the public ,” wrote State Congress president and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Twitter. “We made all efforts to take our message to the public...I hope the BJP government will take care of farmers’ interest, provide employment to the youth and ensure respect and safety of women. We will analyse these results.”
Digvijaya’s charge
Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh said ‘notetantra’ (rule of money) had won over democracy. “I ask only one thing: why doesn’t any developed country use the electronic voting machine (EVM)? It has a chip which is not tamper-proof.”
“In Mandhata, Nepanagar and Hatpipliya this time, we shouldn’t have lost at any cost, but we did by thousands of votes. Tomorrow [Wednesday], we have called for a legislative party meeting which will include the candidates. We will hold a review.”
Hitting back at Mr. Singh, the Chief Minister said, “There was no issue with the EVMs when they won 114 seats earlier? He never accepts the truth, but makes only excuses for the defeat of his party.”