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Elections HIGHLIGHTS | BJP extends Hindi heartland dominance; Congress celebrates Telangana win

BJP to rule in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while Congress faces setbacks. Telangana offers a glimmer of hope for Congress amidst unfolding political narratives on the road to 2024.
(L) Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan and party leaders celebrate BJP's win in the state; (R)TPCC president Revanth Reddy greets Congress party supporters at his residence. (Photos | PTI, ENS)
(L) Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan and party leaders celebrate BJP's win in the state; (R)TPCC president Revanth Reddy greets Congress party supporters at his residence. (Photos | PTI, ENS)
Online Desk

As results emerge out of the states of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the BJP has reasons to cheer, and Congress has proved once again that it's yet to learn the lessons of realpolitik.

The Congress on Sunday suffered a near wipeout in the Hindi heartland as it lost 3-1 to the BJP in the assembly polls, signalling the need to redraw its strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Its loss in the key states has also weakened the grand old party's position in the INDIA bloc where equations are set to change, as other opposition parties would challenge its position as the fulcrum of the alliance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed BJP's big win in the assembly polls as a victory for his government's agenda of self-reliant India, asserting that its hat-trick in the states is a guarantee of its hat-trick of Lok Sabha poll wins in 2024.

Telangana, India's newest state, is the only silver lining for the Congress. The southern state voted out two-time Chief Minister KCR who spearheaded its creation. A leader who once could do no wrong has fallen into another cautionary tale of how not to rule.

In Madhya Pradesh, on the line was the fate of the BJP's longest-serving CM Shivraj Chouhan. He has proved many pollsters wrong yet again. The defeat could be the swansong of Kamal Nath, as seasoned a politician as they come. The BJP's organizational strength and Chouhan's enduring commitment to development played key roles in its dominant win.

In Chhatisgarh, it was Bhupesh 'the great survivor' Baghel, who was keen to return to power. But Raman Singh, the ex-CM from BJP, has ended up scripting his redemption song.

Finally, let's not forget Rajasthan, where Ashok Gehlot was hoping to cock a snook at everybody once again. The state has not voted back a party to power in 40 years. Gehlot believed he could buck that trend, but Vasundhara Raje and the BJP had other ideas.

Mizoram, which voted on November 7, will see its results counted on December 4 -- a day after it was originally scheduled. The Election Commission altered the date for tallying votes, citing the significance of Sunday for the predominantly Christian population in the state.

ALSO READ | Voter agency in assembly polls is a win for democracy

Key Takeaways From Assembly Elections

  • BJP sweeps Hindi heartland: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a significant victory in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, tightening its grip on the Hindi heartland, bolstering Prime Minister Narendra Modi's standing and setting the stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

  • Congress' mixed fortunes: Despite losing in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Congress managed to defeat the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana, extending its winning run in the south. The near 10-year-old rule of the BRS came to an end on Sunday, but the party's leaders are confident that they will 'bounce back'.

  • Modi's popularity swings results: PM Modi attributed the BJP's success to the people's support for the party's fight against corruption. He claimed that the election results served as a lesson to the Congress and the opposition, highlighting the importance of delivering on promises to gain public confidence.

  • BJP's electoral strategy: The BJP credited its victory to Modi's guarantees, including free food grain, income assistance for farmers, housing for all, electrification of villages, and tap water to every home. The party's electoral strategy focused on Modi's leadership and governance achievements.

  • Impact on Opposition dynamics: The Congress' losses in key states prompted discussions within the opposition INDIA bloc, with leaders acknowledging the defeat and questioning the party's role as the fulcrum of the opposition alliance. With other opposition parties vying for a central role, the alliance dynamics are poised for a change in the lead-up to 2024.

    • 'Mama' Chouhan emerges hero of BJP's victory in Madhya Pradesh

  • Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP's seasoned leader, clinched victory in Madhya Pradesh by launching the 'Ladli Behna' scheme to counter anti-incumbency.

  • Despite not being projected as the CM face, his strategic welfare schemes, especially for women, contributed to the BJP's impressive win. Despite initial challenges, he successfully navigated the BJP to a remarkable victory, securing 164 seats out of 230.

  • Chouhan, known as 'mama' and 'paon-paon wale bhaiya,' portrayed himself as a family man, emphasizing simplicity. His enduring appeal, rooted in a 'son of the soil' image, has spanned nearly 18 years, transforming him from a shy politician to a mass leader.

  • The CM's victory underscores the importance of connecting with socio-economic concerns, especially in rural areas. The BJP's organizational strength and Chouhan's enduring commitment to development played key roles. His re-election positions Chouhan as a prominent contender for the top post, emphasizing the BJP's regional dominance and signalling the need for the Opposition to reevaluate its strategy for 2024.

    • Baghel resigns as Chhattisgarh CM, keeps his Patan seat; Deputy TS Singh Deo loses

  • Bhupesh Baghel, who was getting ready to continue as the chief minister of Chhattisgarh after exit polls predicted a Congress victory, on Sunday, suffered a setback as the BJP wrested the state from the hands of the grand old party. Meanwhile, his deputy TS Singh Deo lost his Ambikapur seat by 94 votes against BJP's Rajesh Agrawal.

  • The Congress leader, who resigned as the chief minister Sunday night, emerged victorious in the Patan assembly seat, defeating BJP candidate Vijay Baghel by 19,723 votes in the state assembly elections held last month.

  • Baghel, who became the CM in 2018, has emerged as one of the most formidable state-level leaders of the Congress in the last five years. With his welfare schemes, invocation of regional pride and astute political skills which helped him overcome challenges from within the party, he became the face of the Congress ahead of the 2023 assembly polls.

  • Baghel's leadership faced a serious challenge in 2021 when the followers of his cabinet colleague T S Singh Deo claimed that the party had agreed to make Singh Deo chief minister after two and a half years. But Baghel easily established that most of the MLAs were with him. A small concession was made to Singh Deo when he was made deputy chief minister in June 2023, months before the polls.

    • BJP's Hindi heartland dominance calls for Opposition bloc to rethink 2024 strategy

  • The Congress on Sunday suffered a near wipeout in the Hindi heartland as it lost 3-1 to the BJP in the assembly polls, signalling the need to redraw its strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

  • Congress' loss in the key states has also weakened the grand old party's position in the INDIA bloc where equations are set to change, as other opposition parties would challenge its position as the fulcrum of the alliance.

  • The party was trounced in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and is now left with only Himachal Pradesh in the north.

  • It is ruling in only three states on its own and is in power in Bihar and Jharkhand as a junior partner in alliance with regional parties.

  • However, its victory in Telangana gave a boost to its consolidation in southern India where it is in power on its own in Karnataka.

    • Modi claims 'today's hattrick has guaranteed hattrick of 2024'

    Hailing BJP's victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, PM Narendra Modi took potshots at Congress and the INDIA alliance. He also claimed that "today's hattrick has guaranteed the hattrick of 2024."

    Addressing the BJP cadre at the party office in Delhi, Modi said: "My humble request to Congress and its allies, is don't indulge in politics that empowers anti-national forces."

    KCR, the vanquished Telangana icon who missed a historic hat trick

    Two-time Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, the architect of Telangana, sees setbacks in assembly polls amid accusations of dynastic rule and anti-incumbency. The setback could derail Rao's ambitions to expand the Bharat Rashtra Samithi's influence beyond Telangana and establish a national presence.

    A shrewd politician, Rao took an early initiative by announcing 115 candidates for the 119-member assembly in August this year, well ahead of the November 30 polling date. However, this strategy seemingly backfired as the party candidates grappled with anti-incumbency sentiments.

    READ FULL REPORT HERE

    PM Modi arrives at BJP headquarters in Delhi for party's celebrations

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins hands and greets supporters at BJP headquarters in Delhi as the party wins Rajasthan Assembly elections and leads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photo | Parveen Negi, ENS)
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins hands and greets supporters at BJP headquarters in Delhi as the party wins Rajasthan Assembly elections and leads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photo | Parveen Negi, ENS)

    PM Modi arrives at BJP headquarters in Delhi for party's celebrations

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins hands and greets supporters at BJP headquarters in Delhi as the party wins Rajasthan Assembly elections and leads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photo | Parveen Negi, ENS)
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins hands and greets supporters at BJP headquarters in Delhi as the party wins Rajasthan Assembly elections and leads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photo | Parveen Negi, ENS)

    PM Modi arrives at BJP headquarters in Delhi for party's celebrations

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins hands and greets supporters at BJP headquarters in Delhi as the party wins Rajasthan Assembly elections and leads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photo | Parveen Negi, ENS)
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins hands and greets supporters at BJP headquarters in Delhi as the party wins Rajasthan Assembly elections and leads in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photo | Parveen Negi, ENS)

    Rajasthan: Anti-incumbency, Modi factor and polarisation pave way for BJP's comeback

    Rajasthan reposes trust in BJP after five years, securing a majority in assembly polls and marking a shift in government. PM Modi's leadership, polarization, and Hindutva card contribute to the BJP's success as Gehlot's social welfare schemes fall short of the saffron party's robust campaign. Meanwhile, public distrust stemming from the prolonged Gehlot-Pilot power struggle has also affected Congress's credibility.

    CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REPORT

    Rajasthan BJP in-charge Arun Singh (C) and State BJP President CP Joshi (R) at a press conference as the party celebrates its triumph in Rajasthan Assembly elections on Sunday. (PTI Photo)
    Rajasthan BJP in-charge Arun Singh (C) and State BJP President CP Joshi (R) at a press conference as the party celebrates its triumph in Rajasthan Assembly elections on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

    Telangana: KCR tenders resignation as BRS loses its foothold

    'David beats Goliath' as BJP candidate trumps KCR and Revanth in Kammareddy

    BJP delivers a seismic double blow in Kamareddy, as KV Ramana Reddy outshines CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and TPCC chief Revanth Reddy, who orchestrated the Congress' triumph in Telangana.

    Kamareddy hogged the limelight after KCR announced his candidature from the seat and Revanth Reddy decided to challenge him for the seat. Both KCR and Revanth Reddy are contesting from two seats in the state, with the TPCC chief winning his seat in Kodangal. Meanwhile, KCR is on the verge of winning his seat in Gajwel.

    In Chhattisgarh, BJP increases its vote share by whopping 13% from 2018

    In Madhya Pradesh, surge in vote share highlights BJP's landslide win

    BJP impresses in Rajasthan despite Congress holding onto its vote share

    Madhya Pradesh: Inside BJP's impressive show are 14 rallies addressed by Modi

    PM Modi's appeal seemingly clicked with voters, including women, in the central state where the ruling BJP has won 33 seats and leading in 131 out of 230 constituencies where results are being declared on Sunday. The prime minister also led a roadshow after elections were announced last month in MP and reached out to various sections of voters, including women, youngsters, and tribals, besides the traditional supporters of the saffron party.

    READ FULL REPORT HERE

    Telangana: From deposit loss to state victory, decoding the fortunes of Congress

    Congress secures a decisive majority in Telangana, marking a significant reversal from its loss in the Munugode bypoll just a year ago. The party's remarkable turnaround prompts the question: What factors contributed to this substantial shift in fortune? CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

    TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy with Congress leaders at Gandhi Bhavan amidst a huge wave of his supporters in Hyderabad, on Sunday. (Photo | Sri Loganathan Velmurugan, EPS)
    TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy with Congress leaders at Gandhi Bhavan amidst a huge wave of his supporters in Hyderabad, on Sunday. (Photo | Sri Loganathan Velmurugan, EPS)

    Rajasthan CM Gehlot concedes Congress party's defeat, but calls it 'unexpected'

    CM Ashok Gehlot acknowledged the electoral outcome after the BJP is all set to return to power in Rajasthan, defeating the Congress. Gehlot also wished the new government success while urging the continuation of developmental initiatives and schemes introduced during his administration.

    'Remarkable' BJP dominance in tribal regions of south and north Chhattisgarh

    In Chhattisgarh, the BJP is poised for victory, surprising pundits and defying exit polls. The saffron party's notable success is evident in tribal belts, leading in 8 of 12 seats in Bastar and 13 of 14 in Sarguja. With three declared winners, all from the BJP, including ex-CM Raman Singh, the party's strong performance indicates potential governance. READ FULL REPORT HERE

    Saffron smiles galore as BJP celebrates Hindi heartland dominance

    (Top-Bottom) BJP workers in Delhi, Jabalpur and Jaipur, celebrate their party's victory in the Assembly elections held in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photos | PTI, EPS)
    (Top-Bottom) BJP workers in Delhi, Jabalpur and Jaipur, celebrate their party's victory in the Assembly elections held in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. (Photos | PTI, EPS)

    Rajasthan rejected Congress, accepted BJP's 'suraaj': Vasundhara Raje

    As the BJP cruised to victory in Rajasthan, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje said the state's people have rejected the "misgovernance of Congress" and shown acceptance to BJP's 'suraaj'.

    Raje, who won the Jhalrapatan assembly constituency by a margin of 53,193 votes, also said that the people have given a chance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to serve them in 2024. She attributed the BJP's victory in Rajasthan polls to BJP president JP Nadda's skilled leadership and the dedication of party workers.

    Telangana results 'disappointing' but not 'saddened', says BRS leader KTR

    BRS working president K T Rama Rao on Sunday said the assembly poll results were "disappointing" though he was not "saddened". In a post on 'X', Rama Rao congratulated the Congress party which is clearly heading to form the government in Telangana.

    Revanth Reddy, the man who always believed he would be CM

    Anumula Revanth Reddy, a dynamic figure in Telangana politics, has realized his two-decade-old prophecy of becoming a Chief Minister. Starting his career with an advertising and printing agency, he entered politics as an independent, later aligning with the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) before joining the Congress.

    TPCC president Revanth Reddy greets Congress party supporters at his residence in Hyderabad, on Sunday. (Photo | Vinay Madapu, EPS)
    TPCC president Revanth Reddy greets Congress party supporters at his residence in Hyderabad, on Sunday. (Photo | Vinay Madapu, EPS)

    Known for his eloquence and strategic political moves, Revanth faced legal challenges, including arrest in a bribery case. Undeterred, he won the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat in 2019, becoming the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President in 2021. His political journey, marked by resilience and ambition, positions him as a formidable force in the region, challenging the dominance of Chief Minister KCR.

    READ FULL REPORT HERE

    Madhya Pradesh: Regional breakdown reveals BJP's dominance

    Vindhya Region (30 seats)

  • BJP re-establishes its dominance in CM Chouhan's home turf, leading in all 24 seats; Saffron party is leading the Central MP region with 33 seats, limiting Congress to three seats

  • In 2018, BJP secured 23 seats, while Congress managed 13 in this region

    • Mahakoshal Region (38 seats)

  • BJP establishes dominance, leading in 22 seats in state Congress chief Kamal Nath’s home turf, while the grand old party trails with just 16 seats

  • This is a big upturn from 2018 when Congress won 24 seats in the same region

    • Gwalior-Chambal Region (34 seats)

  • BJP leads in 13 seats on the home turf of union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia, Narendra Singh Tomar and the state’s home minister Narottam Mishra

  • Congress leads in 19 seats, BSP in two

  • In 2018, Congress dominated with 26 seats, leaving only seven for the saffron party

    • Malwa-Nimar Region (66 seats)

  • BJP surpasses its 2018 showing, leading in 47 seats; Congress trails with 18 seats

  • In 2018, BJP won 29, while Congress secured 34 seats in this stronghold

    • Bundelkhand Region (26 seats)

  • BJP takes the lead with 21 seats, surpassing expectations

  • Congress trails with only five seats

    • In Madhya Pradesh, BJP stuns Congress; set for its third largest mandate

    Outperforming most exit-poll predictions, the ruling BJP is on its way to a landslide victory in Shivraj Singh Chouhan-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

  • The saffron party is on course to its third biggest victory since the historic 173-seat win in 2003

  • BJP, which didn’t name its CM candidate, despite its longest-serving CM Chouhan, is leading 162 seats

  • Congress is far behind, leading 66 seats, with BSP and new entrant Bhartiya Adivasi Party on a seat each

  • BJP has so far secured nearly 49% of the vote share, with Congress behind at 40.30%

    • The game-changer CM Ladli Behna Scheme, the Kisan Samman Yojana, the overwhelming support of female voters for CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the magic of PM Narendra Modi, and the winning strategy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, besides the undercurrent of the Ram Temple's grand opening in 2024, seem to have worked for the saffron party in the Hindi heartland state.

    Telangana: BJP's Venkata Ramana Reddy leads Revanth and KCR in Kammareddy

    BJP surges ahead in Chhattisgarh, defying analyst predictions

    In Chhattisgarh, the BJP has taken a commanding lead in 55 seats, overshadowing its primary adversary, the Congress, which currently holds 33 seats.

  • The BJP's impressive performance has defied the expectations of political analysts, as several exit polls had predicted an advantage for the Congress.

  • Meanwhile, other contenders are in the lead for the remaining two seats.

  • In the latest developments, winners have been officially declared in three seats, all of which belong to the BJP, including former Chief Minister Raman Singh.

  • Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is leading in his traditional stronghold of Patan, while his deputy, TS Singhdeo, is still trailing. The majority of ministers in the Bhupesh cabinet are currently lagging in the ongoing electoral contest.

    • There are 90 Assembly seats, and 46 is the magic number.

    Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy receives grand welcome

    Telangana election: BRS Bhavan wears a deserted look

    More winners from Rajasthan

  • BJP candidate Samaram wins Pindwara Abu seat by a margin of 13,094 votes. The BJP leader secured a total of 70,647 votes

  • Bharat Adivasi Party candidate Rajkumar Roat wins Chorasi seat by a margin of 69,166 votes. He secured 1,11,150 votes

    • Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy wins Kodangal seat

    Former Telangana Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy wins from Huzurnagar

    Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje retains Jhalrapatan

  • Former CM Vasundhara Raje has won from the Jhalrapatan seat

  • Senior cabinet minister in the Gehlot government Shanti Dhariwal has won from the Kota North assembly seat

  • Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has won from Jaipur's Jhotwara seat

    • Telangana: INC's Yashaswini Mamidala wins from Palakurthi

    Madhya Pradesh: BJP in clear lead; ministers of Shivraj govt trail in their constituencies

    Telangana: Celebrations outside state Congress chief's residence

    Congress wins Yellandu and Aswaraopeta seats in Telangana

    CM Chouhan gives credit to PM Modi's poll campaign as BJP leads in Madhya Pradesh

  • As vote counting for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections showed the BJP leading in the state, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday gave credit for it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll campaign and said people have immense faith in him

  • The MP government implemented schemes like the Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna and works have been done for the welfare of farmers, poor people and youth, which also touched the people's heart, the CM said.

    • BJP seems headed for a majority in Chhattisgarh

  • Initial trends show that the BJP is now leading in 51 seats in in Chhattisgarh, well above the half-way mark of 45

  • Congress is ahead in 38 Assembly segments in Chhattisgarh

  • Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and most of his cabinet colleagues are still trailing

  • Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh said that the BJP was set to form the government in the state. “BJP is going to form the government in the state. We are leading,” Singh said

    • Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh. (File | PTI)
    Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh. (File | PTI)

    Raje's 'Raj' in Rajasthan?

  • Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is leading in Jhalrapatan. She is being considered a forerunner to the CM post if she beats her rivals from other parties

  • Raje has represented Jhalawar, a constituency she has represented since 2003

  • Raje, who was seen as being sidelined during the party's election campaign, became active ahead of the vote-counting day

  • In 2018, the BJP had lost the election and Congress once again came to power. Raje, however, retained her bastion, defeating Manvendra Singh of the Congress. Singh is the son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh

  • Vasundhara Raje won five consecutive Lok Sabha Elections from the Jhalawar constituency in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, and 1999 before leaving it for her son Dushyant Singh in 2004

  • Rajasthan has not repeated a state government in the past three decades

    • Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje (File photo | PTI)
    Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje (File photo | PTI)

    BJP all set for majority in Rajasthan: Initial trends

  • Ruling Congress has suffered a setback and the BJP seems to be heading towards a majority

  • However, exit polls had shown a tough fight between the two parties and some had claimed that Congress would get more seats

  • At present, the BJP is ahead on 108 seats and Congress on 75 seats, while other candidates are ahead on 16 seats

  • Senior Congress leader Assembly Speaker Dr. CP Joshi is trailing on Nathdwara seat

  • Former BJP state president Satish Poonia is stuck in a very close fight while the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Rajendra Rathod is trailing from Amer seat

  • After lagging behind initially, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara have now taken the lead

  • Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is leading from Sardarpura seat

    • Telangana: INC's Revanth Reddy leads in hotspot Kamareddy after 4th round of counting

    The Congress was leading against its rival BRS in Telangana on Sunday even as Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was trailing in Kamareddy constituency, the Election Commission said.

    Telangana: As early leads give an edge to Congress, party workers are on celebration mode, grooving to dhinchak beats

    Chhattisgarh: 10 ministers of Bhupesh Baghel cabinet are trailing

  • All 10 ministers of the Bhupesh Baghel cabinet (including the CM) are trailing in the initial round of counting

    • BJP heads towards majority in Rajasthan: Early trends

  • The initial trends indicate that BJP will be heading towards a majority

  • At present BJP is ahead on 106 seats and Congress on 77 seats, while others are ahead on 16 seats

  • State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasara and Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi are currently trailing

  • Former BJP state president Satish Poonia is also trailing from Amer seat. After lagging behind, Sachin Pilot has now taken lead from Tonk seat

    • TNIE Editor-In-Chief on the Madhya Pradesh verdict

    Telangana: Counting agents express dissatisfaction over absence of amenities in AV college counting center

    Telangana: In Gajwel, Eatala Rajender gives tough fight to CM KCR

    Rajasthan: Gehlot continues to lead in Sardarpura

  • CM Ashok Gehlot up by 6078 votes from Sardarpura

  • Former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot is trailing from Tonk by about 4000 votes

  • Satish Poonia is behind in Amer

    • Chhattisgarh poll battle seems evenly poised

  • Congress ahead in 45 seats, BJP leading in 44 & others leading in 1

  • CM Bhupesh Baghel, Dy CM TS Singhdeo and BJP national vice-president ex-CM Raman Singh are ahead in their traditional seats

    • Madhya Pradesh: Kamal Nath trails in Chhindwara

  • Kamal Nath trailing in Chhindwara

  • Narendra Singh Tomar trailing in Dimani

  • MP agriculture minister Kamal Patel trailing in Harda

    • Rajasthan: Close fight between Congress & BJP

  • Early trends in Rajasthan reflect a close fight. The BJP is ahead but not too far ahead, the Congress is also holding on

  • Currently, the Congress is leading 80 seats while the BJP is leading on 100

  • Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot is leading on the Sardarpura assembly seat

  • Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje leading in Jhalrapatan seat by a margin of over 4000 votes

  • State Congress President G S Dotasra trailing in Laxmangarh constituency

    • Telangana: Congress leading in hotpost Kamareddy; CM KCR trails

  • Congress leading after two rounds in Kamareddy. Total: 21 rounds

  • The Kamareddy assembly constituency is witnessing a triangle battle between Telangana Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao, his challenger Congress state unit chief Revanth Reddy, and the BJP's K Venkata Ramana Reddy

    • Telangana: Congress in lead in postal ballot and in Aswaraopet

  • HYDERABAD: Congress candidate J Adinarayana is leading by 1,748 votes after the counting of the first round of votes in Aswaraopet Assembly segment in erstwhile Khammam district

  • Adinarayana got 4,318 votes and BRS candidate M Nageswara Rao got 2,570 votes on the first round

  • Opposition Congress is ahead of ruling BRS in postal ballots in several segments - Khammam, Warangal, and Karimnagar districts

  • After first round of votes, Congress candidates are leading in Miryalaguda, Nagarjunasagar, Alair, Suryapet, and Madhira segments

  • BJP candidate is leading in Adilabad and CPI candidate is leading in Kothagudem

    • Madhya Pradesh: Close contest between BJP and Congress

  • Home minister and third-time sitting MLA Narottam Mishra trailing in Datia.

  • BJP rebel and Vindhya Janta Party candidate, the fourth-time sitting MLA Narayan Tripathi leading in Maihar.

    • Early leading trends from Madhya Pradesh

  • BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya leads in Indore-1.

  • Ex-MP minister and sitting Cong MLA Jitu Patwari leads in Rau

  • Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste leads in Niwas-ST

  • Union minister Prahlad Singh Patel leads in home seat Narsinghpur

  • MP minister and sitting MLA Vishvas Sarang leads in Narela-Bhopal

  • State Cong chief and party's CM face Kamal Nath leads in pocket borough Chhindwara

  • BJP: 80; Cong: 62: Total seats: 230

    • All trends based on postal ballots counting.

    Chhattisgarh | Congress touches magic figure

  • Congress touches magic figure as it now leads in 46 seats in early trends based on postal ballots. BJP ahead in 33. Total seats 90.

  • The counting of votes now begins from EVMs.

  • CM Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy Chief Minister T S Singhdeo leading in their traditional seats of Patan and Ambikapur respectively

  • Former CM and BJP national vice-president Raman Singh leading in Rajnandgaon constituency

  • Congress president Deepak Baij and BJP state chief Arun Sao trailing

    • OPINION | Voter agency in assembly polls is a win for democracy

  • When was the last time non-experts and common people outside these states sat at tea stalls or public squares and talked about the dynamics of the Bastar and Sarguja in Chhattisgarh; Chambal-Gwalior, Bundelkhand, Mahakaushal, Malwa-Nimar and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh; Mewat, Jaipur, Shekhawati, Marwar, Mewar, Hadoti and Ajmera in Rajasthan; and North and South Telangana along with Hyderabad?

  • It seemed as if the sub-regional dynamics of every state was familiar to a broad spectrum of people across India, including the youth, women, farmers, middle class, and the urban and rural segments.

  • Further, popular policy outreaches to the voters by rival parties in different states made various schemes and their targeted constituencies matters of widespread interest. All this has thrown up a new challenge to old election analysts and experts on Indian democracy: remaining relevant.

  • If this is the state of analysts, one can only imagine the rugged terrain that politicians and political parties are having to tread on account of this new level of active agency that Indian voters are coherently displaying.

    • - Sajjan Kumar, Political analyst associated with PRACCIS, a Delhi-based research institution

    READ HERE

    Telangana: Counting of Postal Ballot votes start in Jayashankar Bhupalapally constituency

    Rajasthan: Congress and BJP woo rebels, plan to barricade winning MLAs

  • Preparations are afoot, including helicopters being made ready to relocate the winning candidates. The buzz is if the Congress falls short, all its MLAs and those supporting it may be moved away quickly to Bengaluru, the capital of Congress-ruled Karnataka.

  • In case of a hung verdict, chances are that nearly two dozen independents, rebels and smaller party candidates may get elected.

  • BJP is reportedly planning to barricade MLAs in Ahmedabad or Mumbai. Some rebels claim they have received calls from both parties.

  • Rajya Sabha MP Kirori Lal Meena said that Congress has booked two resorts near Bengaluru.

    • READ FULL STORY HERE

    Vote counting underway

    Counting of votes for Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana Assembly elections begins.

    THE NUMBERS

    TELANGANA(119 Seats; Target 60)
    PartySeats Won
    CONG+65
    BRS39
    BJP+8
    AIMIM7
    MADHYA PRADESH (230 Seats, Target 116)
    PartySeats Won
    BJP163
    CONG+66
    OTHERS1
    RAJASTHAN (199 seats, Target 100)
    PartySeats Won
    BJP115
    CONG+70
    OTHERS12
    BSP2
    CHHATTISGARH (90 Seats, Target 46)
    PartySeats Won
    BJP54
    CONG+35
    BSP1

    Excitement and anticipation fill the air

    Madhya Pradesh: BJP and Congress make tall claims about their prospects

  • In Indore, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed that after touring 103 out of the 230 seats, he sees the BJP winning 150 seats and forming the next government with an impressive majority

  • On the other hand, former CM and Congress MP Digvijaya Singh exuded confidence about the Congress going on to win at least 130 seats and forming the next government comfortably.

    • READ FULL STORY HERE

    Chhattisgarh: Congress hopes for smooth sailing after exit polls give it edge

  • Polling in Chhatisgarh, conducted in two phases on November 7 and 17, saw a voter turnout of 76.31%, slightly below the 76.88% recorded in the 2018 Assembly polls.

  • Exit polls gave the edge to the ruling Congress party under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the election to the 90-member assembly.

  • While the primary battle is between the Congress and BJP, the Bilaspur division witnessed a multi-pronged tussle, with both former CM Ajit Jogi's party and the BSP coming into play. The AAP is also vying for a foothold in this division.

  • A total of 1,181 candidates are in the fray, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo (both from Congress) and former CM Raman Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

  • Baghel’s Patan seat is witnessing a triangular contest with BJP fielding the Chief Minister's distant nephew and Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel. Amit Jogi, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) state president and son of former CM late Ajit Jogi is also in the fray from Patan.

  • In Ambikapur constituency, the BJP has fielded a fresh face, Rajesh Agrawal, against Deputy CM TS Singh Deo. Agrawal had joined the BJP after quitting the Congress ahead of Assembly polls in 2018.

  • Nine ministers, including Tamrdhwaj Sahu (Durg Rural constituency), Ravindra Choubey (Saja) and Kawasi Lakhma (Konta), state Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant (Sakti) and state unit chief and MP Deepak Baij (Chitrakot), are among the other prominent Congress candidates.

  • From the BJP, apart from Raman Singh, the other prominent candidates are state unit chief and MP Arun Sao (Lormi constituency), opposition leader Narayan Chandel (Janjgir-Champa), Union minister Renuka Singh (Bharatpur-Sonhat), MP Gomti Sai (Pathalgaon), former ministers Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur South), Ajay Chandrakar (Kurud) and Punnulal Mohile (Mungeli). Two former IAS officers OP Chaudhary (Raigarh) and Neelkanth Tekam (Keshkal) are also contesting on BJP tickets.

  • The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has fielded 53 candidates, including its Chhattisgarh unit president Komal Hupendi from Bhanupratappur seat. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Gondwana Ganatantra Party (GPP) formed an alliance to fight the polls.

    • Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel with family after casting his vote for the state Assembly election, in his native village Kuruddih, Durg District, Nov. 17, 2023. (PTI)
    Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel with family after casting his vote for the state Assembly election, in his native village Kuruddih, Durg District, Nov. 17, 2023. (PTI)

    Madhya Pradesh: Five more years of Shivraj Sarkar or will the people bring the Congress back?

  • Madhya Pradesh's 230 assembly constituencies had 2,533 contenders in the fray in an election marked by a two-way contest between the incumbent BJP and the opposition Congress.

  • “It’s more the people versus Shivraj Chouhan than the Congress versus Shivraj Chouhan. Many are talking of the need for a change. Will they be the majority is the big question,” an expert from the state said.

  • Assembly polls were held in the state in a single phase on November 17, with the state recording a voter turnout of 77.82 per cent, 2.19 per cent more than the 2018 elections.

  • Many exit-poll projections released on Thursday put the BJP in the lead with the Congress seen to be coming up short. Some exit polls, however, gave an advantage to the Congress.

  • The EVMs will decide the electoral fate of political bigwigs like Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the BJP and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath of the Congress.

  • Besides CM Chouhan (from Budhni seat) and Kamal Nath (Chhindwara), the elections will also decide the fate of three BJP Union ministers -- Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste. It will also decide the political fortunes of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijaywrgiya who contested from Indore-1 and three Lok Sabha MPs of the saffron party -- Rakesh Singh, Ganesh Singh and Riti Pathak.

  • Besides main contenders Congress and the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are among the other players that fielded their candidates.

  • The electioneering saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, and CM Chouhan addressing rallies to drum up support for the saffron party's nominees.

  • Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Digvijaya Singh and Nath were among the key leaders of the opposition party who held rallies to canvass for their nominees.

    • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan addresses a press conference ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections, in Jaipur, on Nov. 22, 2023. (PTI)
    Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan addresses a press conference ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections, in Jaipur, on Nov. 22, 2023. (PTI)

    Rajasthan: Can Congress break anti-incumbency or will BJP reclaim power?

  • In Rajasthan, the fate of 1,862 candidates across 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan will be decided.

  • The BJP is going all out to wrest power from the Congress which hopes to buck the desert state's longstanding anti-incumbency trend extending to three decades.

  • Polling was held only for 199 of the 200 assembly seats as the election in the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district was postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

  • The state recorded a 75.45 per cent voter turnout on November 25, higher than the 74.71 per cent in 2018.

  • Exit polls have predicted a close race.

  • The Congress as well as the BJP have started reaching out to Independent candidates, including rebels, and even smaller outfits in case there is a split verdict. Preparations have been made at different levels to ensure that Independent and rebel candidates, who win the elections, are reached out to, sources in both parties said.

  • There are more than 40 rebels from the BJP and the Congress who contested the elections after they were denied tickets. Some of them are expected to win, the sources said, ahead of counting of votes.

  • Some of the key faces in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (Sardarpura), former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot (Tonk), state PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra (Lachhmangarh), former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of the BJP (Jhalrapatan), RLP convenor Hanuman Beniwal (Khinvsar).

  • As mentioned earlier, no political party has retained power in Rajasthan in the last six assembly elections, Congress is hoping to buck the trend banking on Ashok Gehlot's welfare schemes and promises made in its manifesto. Though the Congress has not announced its chief ministerial candidate, it is believed that Gehlot is the frontrunner for the post.

  • The BJP based its campaign in the state on the development ushered by its government at the Centre and by targeting Chief Minister Gehlot on issues such as exam paper leaks and appeasement politics.

  • The BJP has fought the elections without naming a CM candidate, but Gehlot's predecessor Vasundhara Raje is frontrunner for the post from the party.

    • Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addresses a public meeting ahead of the state Assembly elections, at Luni, in Jodhpur district, on Nov. 22, 2023. (PTI)
    Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addresses a public meeting ahead of the state Assembly elections, at Luni, in Jodhpur district, on Nov. 22, 2023. (PTI)

    Telangana Assembly elections: When voters rushed to redeem chicken coupons after polling

  • Ingenious are the ways of the political parties in corrupting the voters. One political party in Miryalaguda distributed tokens to the voters a day before polling. They were told to redeem the tokens at designated shops for one kg of chicken meat.

  • As the polling was progressing on Thursday, some of those who received the tokens tried to exchange them for chicken but the police forced the closure of shops. The police action followed complaints from rival party that chicken was being supplied to the voters in violation of model code of conduct (MCC).

  • But the closure of shops made no difference as the voters exchanged the coupons at the shops for chicken on Friday, the day after elections.

  • According to those who supplied chicken, they had an agreement with the shops to give meat to only those who produced the coupons. The BRS leaders who complained to the election officials were left red-faced as they could not stop the distribution of chicken.

    • Read full story

    Telangana Assembly elections: 3-tier security in place at strongrooms

  • Three-tier security has been arranged to guard the EVMs at strongrooms in 12 Assembly segments in Karimnagar, Jagtial, Rajanna-Sircilla and Peddapalli districts.

  • The district election officials, along with representatives of different political parties, visited various locations to check the security arrangements being made at the strongrooms.

  • Officials stated that the Central forces and state police personnel, along with the elections authorities, will be at the strongrooms till the end of counting process. “The strongrooms have already been locked and sealed. Three-tier security is in place and there is no possibility of anyone breaching this security,” they said.

    • Telangana: Bye-bye BRS?

  • Telangana saw a voter turnout of 71.34 per cent of the eligible 3.26 crore electors in the elections to the 119-member Legislative Assembly on November 30.

  • Every indication is that the Congress under Revanth Reddy will come to power in India’s newest state.

  • If this comes to pass, the BRS supremo Chandrasekhar Rao at 69 will be left pondering his political future.

  • Several segments in the state witnessed triangular contests.

  • As many as 2,290 contestants were in the fray in the elections, including KCR, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao.

  • The BRS fielded candidates in all 119 seats.

  • KCR contested from two segments -- Gajwel and Kamareddy. So did his principal opponent, Revanth Reddy – from Kodangal and Kamareddy.

  • The BJP and Janasena contested in 111 and 8 seats respectively after a pre-poll pact while the Congress gave one seat to its ally CPI.

  • The BJP fielded its only MLA, Etala Rajender, from Gajwel, besides Huzurabad, where he is the incumbent legislator. Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.

  • The BRS campaign centred on the previous Congress regime's failures and ongoing welfare measures for farmers and women. Rao also highlighted his struggles to gain Telangana statehood.

  • The Congress focused mainly on the alleged corruption of the BRS government while highlighting its "six guarantees" and a need for a "change" in regime.

  • The BJP's campaign highlighted the necessity of a "double engine government", "family rule" of KCR and alleged corruption, besides promising to make a Backward Caste leader the CM.

    • YSR Telangana Party chief Y.S. Sharmila during a press conference, a day before Telangana Assembly election results, in Hyderabad, on Dec. 2, 2023. (PTI)
    YSR Telangana Party chief Y.S. Sharmila during a press conference, a day before Telangana Assembly election results, in Hyderabad, on Dec. 2, 2023. (PTI)
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