After a marathon 24-hour counting, the Congress has successfully managed to end the BJP's winning streak in Madhya Pradesh as it emerged as the single-largest party with 114 seats, two short of the majority, the final result released by the Election Commission shows. The BJP, which gave a close fight despite strong anti-incumbency, settled down with 109 seats. Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP has managed to win two seats, the election body said.
The votes between Congress and the BJP started swinging widely within hours after counting of votes for the 230-member assembly began at 8 am on Tuesday. The drama continued till late evening after which the Congress managed to gain a slight lead over the BJP.
Sensing victory, the Congress opened backchannel talks with the BSP, Samajwadi Party (SP), Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) and independents who were leading, the sources said.
Mayawati, who had snubbed the Congress before the polls and refused to tie-up in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, is believed to have called her winning party lawmakers for a meeting in Delhi.
The election was held in Madhya Pradesh on November 28 and 75% of the state's 5.03 crore voters exercised their franchise, with around 1.64 lakh people having voted on an average in each constituency.
In 2013 polls, BJP had won 165 seats while Congress and BSP got 58 and 4. Three independent MLAs also won the polls.
Here are the LIVE updates on Madhya Pradesh:
#ResultsWithNDTV | As the final election results are out, take a look at the vote-share breakup in each of the five states #AssemblyElections2018
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 12, 2018
Watch Prannoy Roy's detailed election analysis here: https://t.co/iLaxDalEV6 pic.twitter.com/XgSTvwPrS6
- What these people have promised - loan waiver in 10 days - Rahul (Gandhi) has said they will change the CM if they don't deliver in this regard. I hope Congress delivers.
- We have won 109 seats. We will be responsible in the role of opposition.We would provide constructive criticism
- The BJP members worked tirelessly for the campaign.
- The party chief worked very hard. I am grateful to the national head, and people of the country.
- In 2008, we got lesser vote share, but we won 143 seats. This time we got 40 percent votes... but we got 109 seats.
- If anyone's to blame for the poll performance, it's me.
- Despite the best of efforts by the central government, the party couldn't perform. It is perhaps because of me.
Proud of Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Spirited fight. More votes; short of majority in a hung house; but no temptation for harakiri; graceful exit by submitting resignation. He won d hearts even in party's sad electoral loss.
- Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) December 12, 2018
मप्र कांग्रेस के अध्यक्ष मान. कमलनाथ जी ने महामहिम राज्यपाल @anandibenpatel जी से मिलकर मप्र में कांग्रेस सरकार बनाने का दावा एवं पूर्ण बहुमत का आँकड़ा पेश किया।
- MP Congress (@INCMP) December 12, 2018
-साथ मे कांग्रेस के वरिष्ठ नेता @digvijaya_28 जी, @JM_Scindia जी, @VTankha जी एवं @pachouri_office जी भी मौजूद रहे। pic.twitter.com/3Fb3uIO65z
Bhopal: Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrives at Raj Bhawan to tender his resignation to the Governor. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/8j1HXEs6P0
- ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018
- If you see, over the last many decades, it was the Congress that ruled most of the states in India. But it was not working for the benefit of the people. Hence regional leaders had to come out and create their own parties to reach out to the people.
- Had the Congress performed well, the BJP would not have been able to expand its base.
- We fought these elections to ensure that the BJP does not come back to power. While BSP has performed well, we did not do as well as we had thought.
- Our aim is to keep the BJP out of power. And that is why we have decided to support the Congress in Madhya Pradesh.
आज भारत जीत गया और अहंकार हार गया। मध्य प्रदेश की जनता ने जनादेश की ताकत का अहसास कराकर लोकतंत्र को मजबूत किया है। मध्य प्रदेश की जनता और कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ताओं का सहृदय आभार।#CongressWinsBIG pic.twitter.com/hPkT2pB5CH
- Congress (@INCIndia) December 12, 2018
कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष मान. कमलनाथ जी ने महामहिम राज्यपाल आनंदी बेन पटेल जी से मिलने का समय माँगा।
- MP Congress (@INCMP) December 11, 2018
-मिलकर सरकार बनाने का दावा पेश करेंगे।@anandibenpatel @CEOMPElections @SpokespersonECI @OfficeOfKNath pic.twitter.com/D9QYfwTmUu
