Madhya Pradesh assembly elections results: BJP takes early lead; Congress close as counting of votes begins

Counting votes in elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly began Sunday morning. A senior poll official said the counting process began at 8 am and postal ballots will be counted for the first half an hour. Madhya Pradesh election which witnessed intense campaigning from prominent leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the principal opposition Congress, may be closely contested as the counting of votes started at 8 am today. The Congress aspires to regain power in the central state, capitalising on the perceived “anti-incumbency” against the BJP, which has been in control since 2003, except for 15 months from December 2018 to March 2020. Polling in the single-phase elections on November 17 saw an impressive turnout of 77.82 per cent, surpassing the 2018 voting percentage of 75.63 per cent, state Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said. In last month’s elections, 77.15 per cent polling was recorded through the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the remaining through postal ballots, he said. The ruling BJP, in power in the state for most of the last two decades, is facing a challenge from the Congress. Most exit polls haven’t indicated a clear winner. The state electorate voted for 2,533 candidates in 230 constituencies. There were 5.59 lakh eligible voters. The counting of votes for all assembly seats began at 8 am at 52 district headquarters amid tight security. Altogether 692 tables have been placed for the counting of postal ballots in all districts, while 4,369 tables have been set up to place the EVMs, Rajan said. Rajan said postal ballots will be counted between 8 am and 8.30 am, after which the counting of votes through EVMs will begin in the presence of officials and political parties’ authorised agents. Soon after the postal ballots are counted, its result will be declared candidate-wise by the officials concerned and the exercise will be followed after the completion of each round of counting, he said. At 26, Jhabua seat will see the highest number of counting rounds, while the lowest number of 12 rounds will be held in Sevda constituency in Datia district, he said. The government has declared the day of counting a ‘dry’ day, during which all wine and liquor shops shall remain closed. A three-tier security arrangement is in place and only people holding valid passes will be allowed to enter the counting centres, he said. With inputs from PTI.