INDIA
Assembly Election Results 2018 Live Coverage: Follow Vidhan Sabha Chunav results here.
The Congress was leading in the BJP-ruled states of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and was locked in a close fight in Madhya Pradesh while the TRS forged ahead in Telangana and the MNF in Mizoram, trends indicated on Tuesday as votes for elections in the five states were counted.
Counting of votes is underway for 679 assembly seats in the five states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana. Polling was countermanded on one seat due to the death of a candidate in Rajasthan.
Rahul Gandhi said at presser in Cong HQ: “We have beaten the BJP in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. I want to thank the chief ministers who have worked in these states fir the work done over their terms. We now have a lot of work to do – for the youth of the states, farmers, shopkeepers. We are going to provide these states with a government they can be proud of. Central question being asked by the youth is how does the government give them jobs? There is a feeling amongst the people that what was promised by Mr Modi wasn’t delivered. Want to thank all the people who have supported the Congress party, it is a victory of the Congress workers who has fought under difficult circumstances."
He added: "With a resurgent Congress party, it will become very difficult for the BJP and the PM to win the next elections; jobs and farmers' problems are the central issues. There is a feeling that what the PM had promised about the economy hasn’t been fulfilled. The opposition is united and will fight together. Ideology of the SP, BSP is different from the BJP and is more aligned to Congress. No issue over chief minister - that will happen smoothly”
Rahul Gandhi added: “EVM question is a generic query - there are problems with EVMs universally and even if we have won these polls, there is a central issue that remains. If the EVMS are manipulated, then elections can be manipulated. US and other countries have said they don’t want an EVM and the question on EVMs isn't off the table.”
He added: “PM was elected on three platforms -- employment, corruption and farmers. Now people are asking what has been done -- corruption in the Rafale deal is a reality and that will come out.”
In Madhya Pradesh, the picture is changing minute to minute, in an electoral exercise which is being seen as a semi-final to 2019.
In Rajasthan the party has avoided naming a chief ministerial candidate, to ensure the faction-ridden state leadership remains united.
These five Assembly elections would be crucial for the BJP as it gears up for the Lok Sabha election next year and is in power in three of these states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.While the Congress is in power in Mizoram, Telangana Rashtra Samithi ruled Telangana before the Assembly was dissolved.
The elections also hold significance for the Congress, which is out to challenge the BJP's rule in the states even while protecting its last bastion in the North-East.
► Exit poll prediction
Exit polls pointed to a close contest for the Congress and the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, where the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government has been in power for the past 15 years, with a majority of them predicting an edge for the Congress.
Raman Singh, outgoing CM of #Chhattisgarh: I take the responsibility for this defeat because the poll was contested under my leadership. We will act as a strong Opposition and work for the development of the state. https://t.co/THZtKnKMhI
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018
The ruling TRS will form its second successive government in Telangana and was heading for a landslide with its candidates winning 53 seats and leading in 35 others, in a resounding endorsement of its chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's popularity.
► AIMIM wins 2 seats, leads in 4 in Hyderabad
AIMIM bagged two seats while leading in four others in the city as per the latest trends in the counting of votes for the Telangana assembly elections.
AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi won from Chandrayangutta constituency for the fifth time in a row, defeating his nearest BJP rival Syed Shehjadi by a margin of over 80,000 votes.
“People of Chhattisgarh took the fight in their own hands. We are grateful to Rahul Gandhi, we fought for the people. We got more seats than expected. high command will decide who will be CM,” said Chhattisgarh Congress President Bhupesh Baghel as he arrived at Congress office in Raipur.
Chhattisgarh: #Visuals from Bharatiya Janata Party office in Raipur. BJP is leading on 15 seats while Congress is leading on 61 seats, out of the total 90 seats in the state. #AssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/AxmHnhvqHm
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018
As votes were counted in five states, a BJP legislator Surendra Singh in UP blamed amendments to the SC/ST Act for the party's poor show and said it can't win elections by hurting sentiments of upper castes.
"The BJP cannot register victory in elections by hurting the sentiments of the savarna (upper castes). The decisions to bring amendments in the SC/ST Act has proved to be suicidal," Singh told reporters.
High profile ministers in @VasundharaBJP cabinet who have lost are:
— Sangeeta Pranvendra (@sangpran) December 11, 2018
Prabhulal Saini - Agriculture
Rajpal Singh - Industries
Arun Chaturvedi - Social Justice
Amraram - Revenue
Gajendra Khimsar - Forest
Shrichand Kriplani - UDH #Results2018 #RajasthanElections2018
@dna
#Rajasthan chief minister @VasundharaBJP wins against @ManvendraJasol from #Jhalrapatan #Results2018 #AssemblyElections2018 @dna
— Sangeeta Pranvendra (@sangpran) December 11, 2018
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) said the Congresss-led alliance, of which it is a part, needs to analyse and introspect on the grouping's 'failure' in the Telangana Assembly elections.
"We have to analyse the factors that contributed to the success of TRS and failure of our alliance," said Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, senior leader of TDP, led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The Congress party initiated talks with Independents for a possible alliance, in case they fall short of the majority mark in the Assembly elections.
Sachin Pilot, one of the chief ministership hopefuls of Congress, stated that the party is confident of a majority but is still in touch with 'like-minded and anti-BJP parties'.
"We are moving towards a full majority and I am sure it will be clear once final numbers are in, but still we welcome all like-minded and anti-BJP parties to support us and we are in touch," the state Congress president said on Tuesday.
#TelanganaElections2018 Trends | Total seats: 119
TRS - 92 | Congress - 16 | AIMIM - 5 | BJP - 2 | TDP - 2 | Others - 2
Happy that BJP is losing in Chhattisgarh: Ajit Jogi
With trends indicating a win for the Congress in Chhattisgarh, former chief minister Ajit Jogi said on Tuesday that he was "happy" with the "results" and that people chose the party because they found it the most viable alternative to the BJP.
Jogi, who was in the Congress before he floated his own party, said the assembly results would help his party emerge as a third front in the state.
"I am happy with the results as the BJP is losing," he said.
Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur City South), Kedar Kashyap (Narayanpur constituency), Mahesh Gagda (Bijapur), Dayaldas Baghel (Nawagarh) and Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur) - are trailing, as per trends in the state Assembly polls.
However, state presidents of the BJP and the Congress - Dharamlal Kaushik and Bhupesh Baghel -were leading from Bilha and Patan seats respectively.
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said Tuesday that he was confident that his party will form the government in Rajasthan and decision on the chief minister's post will be taken by party president Rahul Gandhi.
He also credited Gandhi for the party's good performance in all the five states, including Rajasthan.
"We are confident that the Congress will get a clear majority and will for its government in Rajasthan," Gehlot told PTI.
Mamata Banerjee reacts to Assembly Election results in 5 States
People voted against BJP. This is the people’s verdict and the victory of the people of this country. The victory of democracy and victory against injustice, atrocities, destruction of institutions, misuse of agencies, no work for poor people, farmers, youth, Dalits, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and general caste.
Semifinal proves that BJP is nowhere in all the states. This is a real democratic indication of 2019 final match. Ultimately, people are always the ‘man of the match’ of democracy. My congrats to the winners, tweeted Mamata.
"Let us cherish the ‘idea of India’ for which our freedom fighters laid down their lives. Our people and our great institutions must strive to remain “independent”, in the true sense of the word," she said.
People voted against BJP. This is the people’s verdict and victory of the people of this country 1/3
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 11, 2018
Victory of democracy and victory against injustice, atrocities, destruction of institutions, misuse of agencies, no work for poor people , farmers, youth, Dalits, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and general caste 2/3
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 11, 2018
Semifinal proves that BJP is nowhere in all the states. This is a real democratic indication of 2019 final match. Ultimately, people are always the ‘man of the match’ of democracy. My congrats to the winners 3/3
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 11, 2018
With trends in three of the five state assembly elections showing a tilt towards the Congress, its workers and supporters burst into celebrations at various party offices as well as its headquarters in New Delhi.
The workers distributed sweets and raised slogans as the trends reflected that the party may make a comeback in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
#AssemblyElections2018
— DNA (@dna) December 11, 2018
Celebration begins outside Congress headquarters in Delhi as party takes lead in three states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh).
"Historic victory under @RahulGandhi's leadership, congratulations," reads the hoarding. pic.twitter.com/dqILlR6uZf
#AssemblyElections2018
— DNA (@dna) December 11, 2018
Celebration begins outside Congress headquarters in Delhi as party takes lead in three states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh).
"Historic victory under @RahulGandhi's leadership, congratulations," reads the hoarding. pic.twitter.com/dqILlR6uZf
►Rajasthan
→ Former CM and Congress candidate Ashok Gehlot leading in Rajasthan's Sardarpura.
→ Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot leading in Tonk seat. BJP candidate and Transport Minister Yoonus Khan trailing
→ Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria trailing in Udaipur seat with a margin of 330 votes
→ Congress candidate and former DGP Harish Meena trails by 1,779 votes in Deoli-Uniara seat of Rajasthan
→ Rajasthan's Health Minister Kalicharan trailing by 117 votes in Malviya Nagar seat
→ Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal leads by 3,411 votes in Bhilwara's Shahpura seat
► Mizoram
→ CM Lal Thanhawla of Cong trailing Lalduhoma of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) by 75 votes in Serchhip constituency
► Telangana
→ Telangana caretaker minister T Harish Rao leading by19,989 votes over his nearest TJS nominee Bhavani Reddy after fourth round in Siddipet segment.
#RajasthanElections
► Agriculture Minister Prabhu Lal Saini trailing in the Anta seat
► Social Justice Minister Arun Chaturvedi trailing in the civil lines (Jaipur)
► UDH Minister Srichand Kriplani trails by 321 votes in Nimahera constituency
► Water Resource Minister Rampratap trailing by margin of 658 votes in Hanumangarh seat
Congress workers celebrate outside party headquarters in Delhi as trends show party leading in three states. #AssemblyElections2018 https://t.co/GHN63hvDTJ pic.twitter.com/2RQtN4z5XI
— DNA (@dna) December 11, 2018
#AssemblyElections2018
— DNA (@dna) December 11, 2018
Akhilesh Yadav tweets as trends show Congress taking lead in Rajasthan, tight race in MP https://t.co/GHN63hvDTJ pic.twitter.com/87Qld20jH3
► In Mizoram, Congress and Mizo National Front (MNF)both are leading on one seat each. Result will decide whether Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla of Congress will be able to return for a third consecutive term in office. Mizoram is the last bastion of the Congress in the northeast.
► In the 2013 elections, the Congress had won 34 seats, while its main opposition the Mizo National Front (MNF) got five seats and the Mizoram People's Conference bagged one seat.
Congress workers perform 'hawan' outside Rahul Gandhi's residence in Delhi #AssemblyElections2018 #Results2018 https://t.co/GHN63hNeLh pic.twitter.com/Aba7CGZDqk
— DNA (@dna) December 11, 2018
For Madhya Pradesh, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has exuded confidence that his party would get at least 140 seats to form a majority government.
The elections are also significant for Congress, which is out to challenge the BJP's rule in three states and protect its last bastion in the North-East, where Mizoram remains the only state under the rule of BJP-led NDA. The eight North-East states together have 25 Lok Sabha seats.
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