MP Results: BJP, Congress Grab 27 Seats Each; Counting Underway

As Madhya Pradesh appears to be heading for a cliffhanger with the ruling BJP and Congress locked in a close fight, small parties and independents may play a crucial role in deciding who forms the next government in the state.

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government is looking to return to power for the fourth time amid the anti-incumbency wave. Chouhan, on Sunday, expressed confidence that he would get a majority.

BJP Candidate Yashpal Singh Sisodiya leads in Mandsaur by a margin of 17,212 *votes*.

Mandsaur was the hotbed of farmer agitation in 2017.

Addressing the media at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi congratulated the party workers and said that this is a victory of Congress workers and small traders.

He further said that the party is hopeful of winning Madhya Pradesh.

As Madhya Pradesh appears to be heading for a cliffhanger with the ruling BJP and Congress locked in a close fight, small parties and independents may play a crucial role in deciding who forms the next government in the state.

As per the results and trends available at 7.30 pm, the Congress tally in the 230-member House is 111 (won 13 and leading in 98 seats), while BJP is a close second with 110 (won 15 seats and leading in 96 constituencies).

Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have agreed to form an allaainace with the Congress, reported News18 quoting Congress sources.

The Indian National Congress’ vote share at 41.3 percent has surpassed BJP’s vote share which stands at 41.2 percent.

According to News18, Congress has reached out to BSP and SP for a post-poll alliance in Madhya Pradesh.

DMK President MK Stalin congratulated Rahul Gandhi for the party’s “excellent” performance in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

• Congress candidate Harsh Yadav is leading in Deori by 4 votes.
• Congress’s PC Sharma is leading in Bhopal Dakshina-Pashchim constituency by 393 votes.

“The results in 5 states is a right slap in the face for anarchist govt,” Raj Thackeray.

Thackeray praises Rahul Gandhi for putting up a single handed fight.

'I especially congratulate the people of Gujarat. Voters of Gujarat started the trend and showed Modi and Shah their place'.

BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya’s son, Akash Kailash Vijayvargiya, wins from Indore-3 constituency with a margin of 7,000 votes.

According to the local media, BJP has taken a lead in Madhya Pradesh with 111 seats.

Congress workers burst crackers, danced to the dhol and played with gulal as they celebrated the party's good show in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Carrying the Congress flag, a large number of workers gathered at the party headquarters in Delhi and praised Rahul Gandhi's leadership in steering the Congress towards victory in the three states ruled by the BJP.

Speaking to the media in Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “There are many reasons behind BJP's defeat, and proud of being in power, misuse of democratic institutions are some. People from all strata of society are against BJP. This a disaster for them.”

Chief Minister Chouhan’s brother-in-law and Congress candidate Sanjay Singh is trailing in Waraseoni constituency.

BJP’s Yogendra Nirmal is leading with 25,514 votes.

“Voters have rejected what was unwanted, congratulations to them,” said Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on assembly poll results.

Incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is leading in Budhni constituency by a margin of 35,531 votes.

Sanjay Kakade, BJP Rajya Sabha MP, said that the results for Madhya Pradesh came as a surprise.

“I knew we would lose in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, but MP trends have come as a surprise. I think we forgot the issue of development that Modi took up in 2014. Ram Mandir, statues and name-changing became the focus,” he said.

While state Congress Chief Kamal Nath exuded confidence that the party will form a government in the state, MP Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the trends reflect people's desire for change.

When asked about posters claiming that Nath would be appointed CM if Congress comes to power, Scindia said: "Let us not put the cart before the horse. Let us wait for the verdict."

The two parties are neck and neck, with the BJP two seats ahead of the Congress, according to EC data.

State Sports Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia was leading in Shivpuri seat by a margin of 10,780 votes.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is leading in Budhni seat over his nearest Congress rival by a margin of 19,293 votes.

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said that BJP's policies have destroyed the country, and talks of an alliance will take place only after the results are clear.

“BJP's wrong policies have destroyed the country and this is a result of that. Any talk of an alliance will be done once the whole picture is clear,” he said.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut took a jibe at ally BJP, saying that the trends indicate anger against the government.

Reacting to election trends, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the BJP was nowhere in the "semi-final" ahead of the "final match" in 2019 and people were always the "man of the match" in a democracy.

"People voted against BJP. This is the people's verdict and victory of the people of this country. Victory of democracy and victory against injustice, atrocities, destruction of institutions, misuse of agencies, no work for poor people, farmers, youth, Dalits, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and general caste," she said in a series of tweets.

Nine ministers in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh are trailing in the Assembly polls as per the latest trends, an election official told PTI.

• State Minister Narottam Mishra was trailing by a margin of 3,114 votes from Datia seat
• Rustam Singh was at the third position in Morena constituency
• Balkrishna Patidar trailing in Khargone by a margin of 44 votes
• Lal Singh Arya was lagging behind by a margin 3,039 votes from Gohad seat in Bhind district
• Minister Om Prakash Dhurve was at the third place in Shahpura seat of Dindori district
• Antar Singh Arya was trailing by 3,626 votes in Sendhwa seat in Barwani district
• Minister Deepak Joshi was behind by 4,219 votes in Hatpipliya seat in Dewas district
• Vijay Shah was also trailing by a margin of 1,304 votes in Harsud seat in Khandwa
• Minister Rampal Singh was trailing by 1,193 votes in Silvani seat in Raisen district
• Former Late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's nephew Anoop Mishra, who contested the election on BJP's ticket, was trailing from Bhitarwar seat in Gwalior district by 502 votes
• Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh was trailing in Satna district

The Congress touched the halfway mark in MP leading in 116 seats, while the BJP is leading in 103.

According to latest EC data, the Congress is leading with 110 seats while the BJP is leading in 108.

According to the Election Commission website, the Congress is leading in 112 seats over the BJP.

Congress leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said that the people have given a befitting reply to the BJP.

The BJP crossed the 100-seat-mark in MP with Congress leading in 108 seat.

Congress leader Kamal Nath expressed confidence that the party will win with a majority.

“These are trends, but I am fully confident that we will get full majority,” he said.

The Congress crossed the 100-seat-mark in Madhya Pradesh with the BSP leading in 4 seats.

In trends that have been continuing since morning, the Congress and the BJP are neck and neck in MP.

Following early trends, Congress workers bursts firecrackers and celebrated at the party offices in Delhi and other states.

Rat race in on between the Congress and the BJP with early trends showing a tough fight between the two in MP. Mayawati’s BSP is leading in 3 seats while ‘others’ are leading in 5.

BJP leader Kailash Vijaywargiya said he was confident of the party's victory in MP and Chhattisgarh.
“We'll definitely form governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Seeing the early trends coming from Rajasthan, we believe BJP will form a government there as well,” he said.

Former MP CM and senior Congress Leader Said It was Too Early to Predict Anything

“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 and Chhattisgarh also,” he said.

The Indian National Congress opened the account in Madhya Pradesh, leading in one seat.

Current trends:

• INC - 1
• BJP - 0
• JCC+ - 0
• Others - 0

Counting for all 230 seats in the Madhya Pradesh assembly begins.

Bhopal city SP told ANI that all provisions for security are in place with a 3-tier security system.

“Dedicated teams deployed to ensure full security. Diversion points put on roads outside centres. There's a 3-tier security system. Any device that can help communication isn't allowed inside” he said from outside Old Central Jail counting centre.

A day before the Madhya Pradesh election result, Congress state unit President Kamal Nath said that the party is confident of winning more than 140 seats in the state, reported ANI.

Former Madhya Pradesh CM and senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh took to Twitter to thank the state Election Commissioner for passing an order against using Wifi and webcasting counting at polling centres on Tuesday.

The Chief Electoral Officer has directed that there will be no webcasting during the counting of votes in Madhya Pradesh, ANI reported. Wifi will not be used in the counting hall and CCTV cameras will be installed.