Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018:Can Congress End BJP's 15-Year Rule in State? High-Stake Polls Tomorrow
In Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting for a fourth consecutive term, while the Congress left no stone unturned to break the saffron party's monopoly over power for the last 15 years.
Bhopal, November 27: The assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh will take place in a single phase for all 230 seats on tomorrow. The counting of votes will take place on December 11, and results will be announced on the same day. In Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting for a fourth consecutive term, while the Congress left no stone unturned to break the saffron party's monopoly over power for the last 15 years.
As many as 2,907 candidates are in the fray in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. The BJP has fielded candidates for all 230 seats, while the Congress is contesting in 229 seats leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for Sharad Yadav-led LJD. Although the contest is mainly between the BJP and Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party are also in the fray. The BSP has fielded 227 candidates and the SP is contesting 51 seats. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018: 24% Candidates 'Crorepatis', 17% Face Criminal Charges, Says ADR Report.
The high-decibel campaign, often marked by bitter personal attacks, ended on Monday. BJP's poll campaign was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with other tall leaders of the party. Congress president Rahul Gandhi led his party's campaign in the state and addressed several rallies. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018 Voter Slip: How to Download Voter ID Online on Your Phone Through electoralsearch.in.
During the campaign, PM Modi targetted the Congress over a range of issues including corruption and dynasty politics, highlighting achievements of the BJP government in the state and at the Centre. On his part, Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP government on unemployment, farmers' woes and alleged corruption mainly in Rafale deal. Gandhi was accompanied by state Congress chief Kamal Nath, former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia who campaigned in various parts of the state and held many election rallies and road shows.
The keenly-watched constituency will be Budhni, the home turf of Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress has pitted former Union minister and former Madhya Pradesh Congress committee chief Arun Yadav against him. In the last assembly poll, of the total 230 seats, the BJP had won 165 seats, Congress 58, BSP four and independents three.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 27, 2018 05:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).