Assembly Elections 2018: Congress set to form govts in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh; TRS sweeps Telangana, MNF returns to power in Mizoram

In a major setback to the BJP, the Congress has snatched power from the saffron party in three crucial states - Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh witnessed a see-saw battle between the two parties throughout the day. However, the Congress was one short of half-way mark, according to the Election Commission data recorded at 11:30 pm on Tuesday. 

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s gamble of opting for early polls has paid him rich dividends as the ruling TRS swept the Assembly polls in the state. In Mizoram, the ruling Congress has lost power to the Mizo National Front (MNF). Mizoram was the only state in the North-east where Congress was in power. With this loss, the Congress has been wiped out from the entire north-eastern India. 

Read Also | Assembly Elections 2018: BJP suffers massive loss of 50% seats in five states, over 80% gain for Congress

Madhya Pradesh:

The BJP looks set to form the next government in the state. The party was ahead in 114 seats, one short of simple majority, according to the Election Commission data recorded at 11:30 pm on Tuesday.

Read Also | MP poll results 2018: Congress stakes claim to form government, inching towards simple majority

Out of 230 seats, the Congress was leading in 114 seats while the BJP was leading in 108 seats. The BSP was leading in 2 seats while the the independents were ahead in 4 seats.

Interestingly, the difference in the vote percentage polled by the two major parties is wafer thin. While the BJP has garnered 41.0% of votes, the Congress has secured 41.1% votes, as per the trends available at 11:30  pm Tuesday.

Watch: Congress inching towards majority in MP

 

Rajasthan

Rajasthan has stuck to its tradition of changing governments every five years and the Congress is moving ahead to form the new government in the state.

Out of 199 seats, the Congress won 99 seats while the BJP emerged victorious in 73 seats, according to the Election Commission.  The BSP won  6 seats while the independent candidates secured 12 seats. One candidate was leading, according to the EC data recorded at 11:40 pm Tuesday.

Read Also | Congress set to wrest power from BJP in Rajasthan

The CPI(M) won 2 seats, Bhartiya Tribal Party woni 2 seats, RLD 1 seat while Hanuman Beniwal’s Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won 3 seats.

However, the vote share of the two parties suggest that it was a quintessential neck to neck fight between the two parties. In fact, the difference in vote percentage is just 0.3 per cent. While the Congress has garnered 39.3 per cent of votes, the BJP has secured 38.8 per cent of votes.

Watch: Congress looks set to form govt in Rajasthan  

 
Chhattisgarh

The Congress has succeeded in halting the juggernaut of Raman Singh-led BJP in Chhattisgarh. The BJP has been humbled in the state after ruling for a record 15 years.

Out of 90 seats in the state, the Congress was ahead in 67 seats (Won 44, Leading 23) while the BJP was ahead in  15 seats (Won 10, Leading 5), according to Election Commission data recorded at 11:50 pm Tuesday. 

Read Also | Congress set to oust three-term CM Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh

Ajit Jogi’s Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) was ahead in 5 seats (Won 2, Leading 3). BSP was ahead in 3 seats (Won 1, Leading 2).

In terms of vote percentage, the Congress has garnered 43.2% of votes while the BJP has bagged 33% of votes. Interestingly, Ajit Jogi’s JCC(J) has secured 8.9% of votes while the BSP has got 7.5 % of votes. 

Watch: Congress trounces BJP in Chhattisgarh

 

Telangana

The ruling TRS has made a clean sweep in the Assembly polls. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s gamble of going for early dissolution of the Assembly has worked handsomely for him. The TRS is heading towards a three-fourth majority in the state. 

Out of 119 seats, the TRS won 88 seats while the Congress emerged victorious in  19 seats. Owaisi’s AIMIM won 7 seats. The BJP won 1 seat while the TDP emerged victorious in 2 seats.

Read Also | TRS sweeps polls in Telangana, KCR retains power with three-fourths majority

In terms of vote percentage, the TRS secured a massive 46.9% votes while the Congress was way behind at 28.4%. The BJP got 7% of votes while the AIMIM has secured 2.7% votes.

Watch: TRS retains power in Telangana

 

Mizoram

In some bad news for the Congress, the party’s last standing citadel in the northeast has also crumbled with the Mizo National Front (MNF) dethroning it in Mizoram.

Out of 40 seats in Mizoram, MNF won 26 seats while the Congress won 5 seats. The BJP won 1 seat while the independent candidates emerged victorious in 8 seats.

Read Also | MNF bounces back to power in Mizoram, Cong loses last citadel in Northeast

In terms of vote percentage, the MNF has received 37.6 per cent votes while the Congress has secured 30.2 per cent of votes. The BJP has got 8 per cent votes in the state.

Watch: MNF bounces back to power in Mizoram