The BJP expanded its footprint across Madhya Pradesh and found the means to retain the government by winning 16 seats and maintaining lead in three others as results for the byelections trickled in on Tuesday.
Of the 28 seats, the Congress won just seven, while it was leading in two others when results last came in at 11.30 p.m. In the 2018 Vidhan Sabha election, the Congress had won 27 seats and the BJP one.
Also read: Madhya Pradesh bypolls | All non-Congress MLAs back us, says BJP
The BJP’s vote share stood at 49.4% compared with the Congress’s 40.5% . In the 230-member Assembly, the BJP improved its tally to 123, crossing the simple majority mark of 115.
The Congress numbers climbed to 94. Byelection remains due on one seat vacated by a Congress MLA who recently switched over to the BJP.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said “I have complete faith the BJP will secure a massive victory. Wherever we trail, we are behind only by marginal votes”.
Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Powered by the progressive agenda of the government under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the hardwork of the Madhya Pradesh BJP, our party has emerged as the unparalleled choice of the people. I thank the people of MP for blessing BJP in the bypolls held across the State. Their affection is invaluable.”
Scindia’s popularity
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.
Of the 16 seats in the region, where Mr. Scindia’s supporters contested as BJP candidates, the party won six in the Gwalior region, while it won one seat and led in two in the Chambal region.
Also read: M.P. bypolls | BJP has everything to gain, says Jyotiraditya Scindia
However, the share for Mr. Scindia’s supporters, who won all the seats in the region in 2018, appeared to be shrinking by seven seats.
Congratulating the winners, Mr. Scindia wrote on Twitter, “I have complete faith that you 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. Minister Imarti Devi lost from Dabra in the Gwalior region by a margin of 7,633 votes.
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,” Mr. Nath wrote 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.”
