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Follow the latest updates on the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections as the state heads to the polls today. Additionally, Chhattisgarh will conduct the final round of its two-phase elections for 70 seats.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, a prominent figure in the political landscape, has discussed the Congress’ position in the ongoing elections, stating, “Kursi ki race Congress ki hai” (The race for the chair is with the Congress). However, the specific mention of the Congress’s chief ministerial face remains a topic of discussion.
The electoral landscape in Madhya Pradesh has been shaped by high-intensity campaigns from both the Congress and the BJP. The BJP has predominantly controlled the state for nearly 20 years, except for a brief two-year rule by the Congress post the 2018 polls. The BJP aims to retain power, while the Congress seeks to reclaim it.
Prominent figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan have spearheaded the BJP’s campaign. Meanwhile, the Congress has relied on leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Kamal Nath, and Digvijaya Singh to challenge the BJP.
The BJP has emphasized its achievements, claiming to lift the state out of the ‘BIMARU’ (laggard) category and offering a ‘corruption-free’ government. In contrast, the Congress has focused on conducting a caste-based survey of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state as a key election plank.
With over 5.9 crore voters deciding the fate of 2,533 candidates in the state, polling began at 7 am at over 64,000 stations and will conclude at 6 pm.
