Racing towards the finish line in MP: BJP 79, Cong 78, SP one
TNN Bureau. Updated: 12/12/2018 10:21:54 AM
Politics
Bhopal, Dec 11: In an unprecedented political neck and neck race in Madhya Pradesh where counting of Assembly votes is still underway on Tuesday, the Congress emerged victorious in 78 constituencies thus far, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 79 and Samajwadi Party one even as three seats went to independents.
The Congress is leading in 36 areas, BJP in 30, Bahujan Samaj Party in two and an independent in one. The Chief Electoral Officer’s workplace declared 161 results by 2330 hrs.
In a fresh development, Congress state President Kamal Nath has written to the Governor seeking an audience.
Both the principal parties’ leaders and strategists are holdings meetings. Mr Nath, bigwigs Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia monitored the results at the party’s state headquarters while BJP state chief Rakesh Singh and Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar discussed the
situation with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. BJP stalwarts Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Kailash Vijayvargiya were also seen active.
An average 15 to 24 rounds of counting are being conducted. Numerous ministers and some Congress stalwarts bit the dust.
The Congress and the saffron party garnered in excess of 41 per cent of votes. Postal ballots were counted first and electronic voting machines have taken up later. Counting of votes cast on November 28 began on Tuesday morning at all district headquarters amid heavy security bandobast. The official time for commencement of the process was 0800 hrs.
A total 75.05 per cent of an electorate exceeding five crore exercised their franchise to determine the fortunes of 2,899 candidates. The BJP is contesting all 230 seats, the Congress 229, the BSP 227 and the Aam Aadmi Party 208.
Only returning officers and observers are being permitted to carry cellular phones into the counting centres.
The Congress ruled for a decade from 1993 but was ousted by the BJP’s historic victory in 2003. In 2013, the saffron party surged to power for a third successive time by winning 165 constituencies whereas the Congress was restricted to 58.