Assembly Election Results 2023: A test of nerves for Congress in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

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The Rajasthan CM claims that his government is not facing any anti-incumbency sentiment; adding that the language of intimidation and vengeance used by the prime minister and home minister during the campaign will backfire on the BJP. "Exit polls may say something and surveys might suggest something, but based on the people’s feedback in the cities and villages, our government is set to come back in Rajasthan."

Congress offered six poll guarantees, as it did in neighbouring Karnataka. During the campaign leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra often used the slogan "Marpu kavali, Congress ravali" Another pet theme that the Gandhi siblings banked on was: “We want Prajala (people’s) Telangana not Dorala (landlord’s) Telangana.”

CM Zoramthanga was leader of an insurgent group while Lalduhoma, the founder of Zoram People's Movement is a former IPS officer who served as the security in-charge of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In 2003, the BJP won all the three states - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - but went on to lose the general election in 2004.
In 2008, the BJP retained two states, losing Rajasthan, but went on again to lose the general elections in 2009. In 2013, the BJP again won all three and went on to win a historic mandate in 2014. In 2018, BJP lost all four states, including Telangana, but went on to win big in 2019.

With the exit polls giving a clear edge to Congress, the partly is likely to relocate its MLAs to another city to prevent poaching. The party will reportedly take a call on relocating MLAs to Bengaluru or any other Congress-ruled state after the counting of votes on Sunday.

BJP has a clear edge in Madhya Pradesh, as per most exit polls. Most exit polls predicted that the BJP, which has ruled the state for almost 18 of the past 20 years, is set for another term in office with a huge majority.

In 2018, the Congress had won 68 seats, up from 39 in 2013, while the BJP tally had fallen to 15 seats from 49 in 2013.

In Rajasthan, which is known to vote out the government in every election, the ruling Congress is giving a tough fight to the BJP. India Today-Axis My India and India TV- CNX polls showed the Congress to be ahead in a tight contest.

Exit polls predict BJP returning to power in Madhya Pradesh, where it has ruled for close to two decades. Polls see BJP bagging over 120 seats in the state's 230-member assembly while Congress getting over 100 seats. The majority mark in the state is 116.

In 2018s, the averages of top exit polls marginally were off in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, but wrong for Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

Almost all exit polls give a clear edge to the Congress. A divided house till some time ago, the Congress party tried to paper over the wedge by promoting state minister T S Singh Deo, the main challenger to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as the Deputy Chief Minister in June this year.

K T Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, panned exit poll results, saying his party was coming back. "We are coming back anywhere between 70+ seats (out of the total 119 segments).”

Exit polls predict Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana. BJP has the edge in Madhya Pradesh, while Rajasthan is mixed bag. Mizoram could see a hung verdict

BJP, which saw defeats in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, needs wins on Dec 3 to help build momentum for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.