BJP On Its Way to Win in Rajasthan, MP, and Chhattisgarh; Congress to Bag Telangana

“People have blessed the BJP in three states… they have endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and rejected the false promises of the Congress,” said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi as the counting progressed and celebrations broke out in BJP quarters.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP seemed to be on track for another term with leads in 161 seats, while the Congress was far behind with 66 seats in the 230-member assembly.

“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh. The state is also in the heart of Modi,” said four-term Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The BJP has been in power in the state for 18 years. Basking in his moment of glory, Chouhan mentioned the implementation of schemes like Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna, as well as the work done for the welfare of farmers, the poor, and the youth.

A total of 2,533 candidates were in the fray, including Chouhan and his predecessor and rival, veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath. If the BJP seems set to retain power in the central Indian state with a decisive victory, it is also ready to take over from the Congress in neighboring Rajasthan, which has traditionally voted alternately for the two parties. While the saffron party was leading in 111 seats, well over the halfway mark, the Congress had leads in 72 seats.

Voting was held in 199 seats as polling in one seat was postponed due to the death of a candidate. The Congress, plagued by factionalism, was led by Ashok Gehlot in the state, but interestingly, the BJP did not have a chief ministerial face.

Regarding the decision on the new chief minister of Rajasthan, Prahlad Joshi said it will happen very soon and smoothly.

Taking a dig at Gehlot, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the magic has ended and people have voted for the honor of women and the welfare of the poor.

“The way we are moving towards a huge majority in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, it is clear that the people trust Modi’s guarantee and have rejected the Congress’ gimmicks. Modi’s magic is the real magic, and every other magician has failed,” added BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.

While the trends were clear in the two states, many Congress workers still held hope that the party would retain power in Chhattisgarh. But it seemed increasingly difficult.

The day started with both parties neck and neck, but as the counting continued, the BJP consolidated its lead and was ahead in 53 seats, while the Congress was leading in 36 seats in the 90-member house.

Senior BJP leader Raman Singh stated that the people had rejected Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Echoing his party colleagues, he said that the people had shown their faith in Modi’s work and guarantees, not in Baghel’s promises.

The proverbial silver lining for the Congress, desperately hoping for a political revival, was Telangana, where it was likely to take power from the BRS.

The Congress was leading in 64 seats, leaving the BRS with leads in 40 seats in the 119-member house. While BRS leaders discussed the reasons for the impending defeat, the day belonged to Congress party chief Revanth Reddy, who could potentially become the next chief minister.

Counting began at 8 am with tight security and high anticipation in the four states.

The votes in the fifth state, Mizoram, will be counted on Monday.

A three-tier security arrangement has been implemented, and only people with valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centers, according to election officials.