New Delhi, Dec 3: The BJP swept Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on Sunday inflicting a resounding defeat on the Congress to tighten its stranglehold in the Hindi heartland, in a big boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and setting the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In some consolation for the Congress in the face of the saffron wave after it lost Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the party ousted the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana to make it 3-1 for the BJP in the latest round of Assembly elections billed as a semi-final before next year’s poll showdown.
Winning 163 seats, the BJP got two-thirds majority in a House of 230 in Madhya Pradesh. Congress bagged 66 seats.
In Rajasthan, the BJP got a majority bagging 115 seats after voting was held for 199 constituencies. The Congress notched 69 seats.
The Chhattisgarh outcome was a surprise for many Congress leaders who were hoping for another stint in power in the state by fending off the BJP challenge.
The day began with both parties neck and neck but, as counting continued, the BJP consolidated its lead and won 54 seats. The Congress won 35 seats out of 90.
The K Chandrashekhar Rao-led BRS hoped for a hat-trick in Telangana but was dethroned by the Congress. Anumula Revanth Reddy, a Lok Sabha MP who led the Congress’ charge, could be the second chief minister of the state. The Congress won 64 seats in the 119-member House. The BRS bagged 39 seats. The BJP put up a good showing and increased its tally in the southern state to eight. (PTI)
