Bhopal, November 8: In what is likely to serve as a shot in the arm for the incumbent BJP in Madhya Pradesh, the party is predicted to win the upcoming assembly elections, as per the latest opinion poll results released by ABP News-Lokniti CSDS. The Congress, meanwhile, is projected to serve in the Opposition for a fourth term in a row.

The pre-election survey predicts the BJP to defy the 15 years of anti-incumbency, and retain the state again with a paper-thin majority. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led outfit will win 116 seats -- one above the majority mark, the opinion poll claimed. Full Schedule of Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018.

The Congress, on the other hand, will be restricted to 105 constituencies -- 10 seats less than the halfway mark of 115. Other parties and independents are predicted to collectively bag around 9 assembly segments.

ABP News-Lokniti CDSD Opinion Poll Results of MP Assembly Elections 2018:

 Party Vote Share Seats
BJP 41% 116
Congress 40% 105
Others 21% 9

The survey aired by news channel ABP News was conducted in coordination with think-tank Lokniti-CSDS in the final week of October. The sample size was 14,092, combined in the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

Notably, the BJP has been ruling MP since 2003. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the existing CM, has been serving since 2005. The party is facing its most stringent contest yet in over a decade, with the Congress hopeful of turning things around as indicated in a string of bypoll victories earlier this year.

The state will go to polls in a single phase on November 28, with the results scheduled to be declared by the Election Commission on December 11.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 08, 2018 07:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).