Final election results 2018: Congress stopped the BJP's run in three heartland statesNew Delhi: The Congress will shortly stake claim to form the next government in Madhya Pradesh after emerging the largest party in a see-saw battle with the BJP, which lost power after putting up a strong fight.
The Congress is two short of the majority mark of 116 in the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh assembly, but has closed the gap with help from Mayawati, who announced her support this morning.
The Congress has won 114 seats, two short of the majority mark in the 230-seat assembly in Madhya Pradesh.
The BJP is not far behind with 109.Votes were counted overnight in Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress sought an appointment with Governor Anandiben Patel around midnight in a letter mailed and hand-delivered for good measure.Congress leader Kamal Nath told reporters at 2:45 am that his party "had won an absolute majority".
This morning, the party ended up two seats short, which means it needs help.
Kamal Nath had yesterday reached out to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati, who had snubbed the party during pre-poll alliance talks.
A leader of Mayawati's party, Sudhindra Bhadoria, told TheIndianSubcontinent yesterday that the party would do all it can to stop the BJP from coming to power.In Rajasthan, the Congress was at 99 and touched the majority mark of 100 with its ally Ajit Singh; elections were held for 199 of the 200 assembly seats.
The BJP has won 73 seats, Mayawati's party has won six.In both Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Congress celebrations have been dimmed somewhat by the anticipated power tussle.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is believed to be in favour of veteran warhorse Kamal Nath over Jyotiraditya Scindia for the post of chief minister.In Rajasthan, the decision may not be so simple.
The party's 99 legislators will meet a central party leader today to share their view on who they want as chief minister between state chief Sachin Pilot and two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot.The Congress scored its best election results in years on a day it marked a year since Rahul Gandhi's takeover.
The party hopes the state election gains will consolidate its chief's role in opposition efforts to form a grand alliance to take on PM Modi in next year's polls.
Accusing PM Modi of letting down voters and not delivering on his promises, Rahul Gandhi said last evening, "Mr Modi has taught me what not to do Arrogance is fatal for a politician".The shock defeat for the BJP was in Chhattisgarh, where Raman Singh was considered one of its most popular chief ministers.
The Congress has far outstripped the BJP in the Maoist-hit state, winning 65 of the 90 seats and leading in three.
The BJP has won 15 seats.
The alliance of Ajit Jogi and Mayawati has won seven seats.K Chandrashekar Rao struck gold in Telangana, winning 88 of the state's 119 seats.
Congratulating him, rival Chandrababu Naidu said, "TDP respects the mandate of the people".
The Congress-TDP alliance won 21 seats.In the north-eastern state of Mizoram, the Congress was decimated by the regional Mizo National Front, which won 26 of the state's 40 seats.
The Congress won just five seats.
The BJP, which aims to rule the whole of the northeast, has won only one seat.For the latest News Live Updates on Election Results from each assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for updates.