MP Election Result 2023: Mama Shivraj Back In Madhya Pradesh As Modi Wave Dashes Congress’ Dreams Of Comeback

MP Election Result 2023: The heart of India, Madhya Pradesh, witnessed what can be called the 'Saffron wave' on Sunday as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party swept more than 160 seats in the 2023 assembly election. Dismissing apprehensions such as the unceremonious fall of the Kamal Nath government in 2020 and anti-incumbency, the people of Madhya Pradesh chose BJP's Kamal over the Congress' Kamalnath, paving the way for the fourth Shivraj Singh Chouhan chief-ministership.

Eyeing the CM chair for the fourth time, the longest-serving Chief Minister of the central Indian state took to microblogging 'X' to write an emotional 'thank you' message for the people of Madhya Pradesh for the historical mandate.

"Heartfelt gratitude to my entire family, the people of Madhya Pradesh, for this unprecedented love, trust, and blessings! The public has blessed this unprecedented victory for the public welfare policies and development works of BJP under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi ji," he stated in a long 'X' post.

"We got the love of our dear sisters, my nephews and nieces; the enthusiasm of the youth was with us. Farmers, the poor, and every section of the state participated in this holy festival of democracy for a prosperous Madhya Pradesh," Shivraj Singh Chouhan added while thanking voters of various sections of society.

Congress Concedes Defeat

While celebrations started in the ranks of BJP leadership, the principal opposition Congress accepted the people's mandate, saying that his party has been given the responsibility of sitting in opposition for the next five years, which they will discharge honestly.

"I accept the decision of the people of Madhya Pradesh in the election results. We have been given the responsibility to sit in the opposition, and we will discharge our responsibility. The biggest question facing Madhya Pradesh right now is that the future of the youth of Madhya Pradesh should be secure, and our farmers should get prosperity," Kamalnath wrote on 'X.'

BJP Wins 165 Seats, Wraps Up Congress At 65

According to the data available on the website of the Election Commission of India as of 9 pm, the Congress party had won 48 seats, leading in 17 seats and trailing behind the winner of the day, Bharatiya Janata Party, which swept 146 seats under its hood with 18 more to come, thus making it over 160 seats. Notably, the state assembly has a total of 200 assembly constituencies.

Key Results

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the incumbent Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Budhni emerged victorious with an enormous lead of 1,04,974 votes, securing a total of 1,64,951 votes. In the battle of Budhni, Chouhan faced off against Congress leader Vikram Mastal Sharma, who could only win 59,977 votes. However, the election results also pulled up a few shockers with BJP's firebrand leader and Home Minister, Narottam Mishra losing his Datia seat to Congress candidate Bharti Rajendra by a margin of 7,742 votes.

How BJP Pulled The Big Victory

BJP's Madhya Pradesh Campaign prominently focused on schemes for women and youngsters. Many political experts attributed the big win to the ambitious schemes of the state government such as the 'Ladli Behna Yojana,' providing a monthly transfer of Rs 1250 to eligible women from economically disadvantaged families in the state. While the Congress labelled it as an election strategy implemented shortly before the assembly polls, BJP leaders had said that it aligns with the party's commitment to empowering women.

The campaign strategy, disciplined and focused in the case of the saffron party evidenced by more than 1,000 poll rallies by CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan and lethargic in the case of Congress which overtly banked on the 'anti-incumbency' hopes, made the final difference in the result.

(Note: The numbers mentioned above will be updated as and when EC declares final results in Telangana. The counting on a few seats is still underway.)