- By Shivam Shandilya
- Sun, 03 Dec 2023 06:36 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Election Results News: The counting of votes in four poll-bound states will be held on Sunday. The result in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana is being seen as a semi-final contest ahead of the general elections, which is likely to be held in less than six months.
The Congress, which is ruling Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states. K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is also hoping for a third term in Telangana. The pollsters have been divided on the outcome, with quite a few exit polls putting the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and giving it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that Congress has an advantage in Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
The counting will commence at 8 a.m. on Sunday, starting with postal ballots amid full preparations by the poll body for 30 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana, and 199 seats in Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, one seat has been put off due to the death of a candidate. The counting in Mizoram will be held on Monday.
(Both BJP and Congress leaders claim victory in all four states./ Representative Image)
According to news agency PTI, citing election officials, a three-tier security arrangement has been put in place, and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres.
The Congress is eyeing Madhya Pradesh and Telangana and is hoping to retain Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh after wresting Karnataka from the saffron party. A good performance by the Grand Old Party in these states will certainly impact its standing in the opposition INDIA alliance, which has been formed to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Meanwhile, the BJP is seeking to follow the winning streak of Gujarat, where it has been ruling since 1998, in Madhya Pradesh. Congress, on the other hand, with its former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is hoping to form the government again.
"The face of the Congress has been exposed. Only the results are to come tomorrow. The good governance that the public wanted will be found under the BJP government," Union minister Anurag Thakur said in Jaipur, adding that the people want the "double-engine" government of the BJP.
Several Congress leaders have also claimed that the party will win in all four states.
"I am certain that we (Congress) will form a government in four states, including Rajasthan, and in Mizoram, a combined government will be established," Congress leader Promod Tiwari said on the eve of counting of votes.
Amid pollsters predicting a close fight, several media reports claim that parties have decided to herd their winning candidates swiftly to prevent any poaching and were also reaching out to independents, rebel candidates, and other smaller parties. However, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar dismissed reports that he had been asked to bring winning Congress candidates from the states to resorts and hotels in Karnataka.
"No MLAs will be going anywhere. Nobody has given me a responsibility or called me. I am confident that we will win all the states," Shivakumar said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
(With input from agencies)