Asia Press Agency

Tag: Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections

  • Kamal Nath May Resign as Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief

    Kamal Nath May Resign as Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief

    In the aftermath of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, where the Congress faced a setback, there are indications that state party Chief Kamal Nath might submit his resignation. A meeting with Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge is expected on Tuesday, as reported by PTI, citing inside sources.

     

    The election results revealed a commanding victory for the BJP, securing a two-thirds majority with 163 out of 230 seats in the Madhya Pradesh assembly. In contrast, the Congress managed to secure only 66 seats in the polls held last month, with the votes counted on Sunday.

     

    To address the defeat and analyze the reasons behind the poor performance, the Congress has convened a meeting of all 230 candidates on Tuesday. Kamal Nath is slated to address the gathering, joined by senior leaders such as Digvijaya Singh and Suresh Pachouri, to discuss the factors contributing to the party’s electoral setback.

     

    According to PTI reports, dissatisfaction within the Congress leadership stems from Nath’s remarks against several leaders of the INDIA bloc. This includes Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, particularly regarding seat-sharing agreements. The opposition INDIA bloc, formed to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, faced disagreements over seat allocations. The Congress leadership is reportedly displeased with Nath’s stance during these negotiations.

     

    Notably, the Samajwadi Party sought four to six seats, and the JD(U) requested only one seat in Madhya Pradesh. However, disagreements on these terms led to discord within the opposition alliance.

     

    The Congress leadership is also said to be unhappy with Kamal Nath’s decision to meet Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday while not engaging with party leaders and workers. This move has added to the dissatisfaction within the party ranks.

     

    During the previous state assembly elections in 2018, the Congress emerged victorious, securing 114 seats and leading the BJP, which won 109 seats. Kamal Nath assumed the role of chief minister, but political dynamics shifted dramatically in 2020 when Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with 22 loyalist MLAs, switched allegiance to the BJP. This move led to the fall of the Congress government, and the BJP, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the helm, returned to power.

     

    Madhya Pradesh has been a traditional stronghold for the BJP for the past two decades, except for the brief 15-month period of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in 2018. The recent election results underscore the state’s historical political landscape and the challenges faced by the Congress in maintaining a sustained presence.

  • Congress Faces Tough Challenge from INDIA Coalition Allies

    Congress Faces Tough Challenge from INDIA Coalition Allies

    As the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections approach, the Congress, viewed as the primary contender to challenge the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule, finds itself in a complex electoral landscape. The Congress will be contending against its INDIA coalition partners in 92 out of the state’s 230 Assembly constituencies. Among these, 26 seats will see the Congress competing against not just one but two INDIA allies: the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Additionally, in three other constituencies, the Congress will be pitted against candidates from AAP and the Janata Dal (United).

     

    The Samajwadi Party, JD(U), and AAP have declared their candidates in these constituencies, as seat-sharing negotiations with the Congress proved unsuccessful. Notably, among the Congress’ INDIA coalition partners, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has fielded the highest number of candidates, standing at 70, followed by the SP with 43 candidates and the JD(U) with 10 candidates, as of figures available till October 29.

     

    Among the 92 constituencies where the Congress is set to compete, nine witnessed narrow losses for the party in the 2018 Assembly polls. These include seats like Gwalior South (lost by 121 votes), Jabalpur North (578 votes), Damoh (798 votes), Rajnagar (732 votes), Picchore (2,675 votes), Gunnour (1,984 votes), Prithvipur (4,620 votes), and Petlawad (5,000 votes). In six other constituencies, the Congress narrowly lost in 2018, including Chandla (defeat by 1,177 votes), Nagod (1,234 votes), Maihar (2,984 votes), Singarouli (3,726 votes), Jabera (3,485 votes), and Indore-5 (1,133 votes).

     

    In the previous Assembly elections, the SP contested in 52 seats and managed to win one, while the AAP failed to secure a seat but secured a vote share of 0.66 percent. The JD(U) did not participate in the 2018 polls.

     

    Madhya Pradesh’s 230 constituencies will go to polls in a single phase on November 17, with the Election Commission scheduled to announce the results on December 3.

     

    The presence of INDIA coalition allies fielding candidates in these constituencies has the potential to disrupt the Congress’s electoral calculations, particularly in seats where a close contest is expected. This is of significance, as pre-poll surveys have indicated a closely fought battle between the two national parties in the state. According to the India TV-CNX opinion poll released on October 27, the BJP is projected to secure victory in 115 seats, while the Congress is predicted to win 110 constituencies.

     

    As the election campaign unfolds, the Congress will need to strategize effectively to navigate the complex political landscape and secure a competitive edge against both its main rival, the BJP, and its own INDIA coalition partners. The Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections will be closely watched, as the outcomes may have implications for the state’s political landscape and governance.