Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections: Key battles to watch out for

BJP and Congress are in tight race to form the government in Madhya Pradesh.

The stage is set for a close battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) in the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh as it goes to poll to elect a 230-member House.

The BJP has fielded its big guns and employed the strategy of supporting fresh leadership to secure victory for another term, while the opposition Congress is relying on its promises of providing gas cylinders at Rs 500, granting Rs 1,500 per month to every woman, and implementing the old pension scheme.

Results to the 230-seat Assembly will be declared on December 3 along with those of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. Here’s a look at some of the key battles to watch out for that will decide who will form the government in the state.

Chhindwara: The seat stands as a stronghold for Congress leader Kamal Nath, where he faces BJP's Vivek Bunty Sahu. In the previous Assembly polls, Congress secured victory by fielding Deepak Saxena, while in 2013, BJP’s Chandrabhan K Singh emerged victorious.

Kamal Nath’s significant influence in the region is evident from his substantial win in the May 2019 by-poll, securing a margin of over 25,800 votes. With nine victories from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, his extensive political career amplifies his clout and earnestly vies for the chief ministerial position.

The electoral history of Chhindwara shows varying victory margins, exemplified by the Congress’ 2018 win with a margin of 14,547 votes. Saxena, who emerged victorious secured a substantial 50.47 percent vote share, revealing the tightly contested nature of elections in the region.

Budhni: The Assembly constituency has been Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s stronghold, and this time, he faces the Congress party’s Vikram Mastal. Chouhan, 64, has held a dominant position in this seat since 2006. According to electoral records, his victories have been substantial, defeating Congress leader Arun Yadav by 58,999 votes in the last polls in 2018.

In the 2023 Assembly elections, Chouhan’s assumed position as the sole contender for the chief ministerial post could encounter challenges, as the BJP has put forward multiple potential candidates.

Over the past three elections, the Assembly segment has witnessed significant victory margins. In 2013, Chouhan secured a win with 84,805 votes and a vote share of nearly 70 percent.

Narsingpur: The BJP has nominated its prominent OBC leader Prahlad Singh Patel, while the Congress has put forth Lakhan Singh Patel as its contender. The BJP saw success in the last two Assembly elections of 2013 and 2018, with Jalam Singh Patel emerging victorious.

However, in this election, the ruling BJP has strategically placed the Union minister, replacing his brother. The move aims to sustain the party’s strong presence in the constituency. Narsingpur’s electoral battle has experienced varying victory margins in the past three elections, with the largest margin in 2013, where Jalam Singh won with 48,481 votes.

High voter turnout has been a hallmark of this constituency, with a slight increase recorded in 2018 compared to the numbers from 2013.

Indore-I: The constituency is poised for a bipolar contest as the BJP has fielded its strong leader Kailash Vijayvargiya against Congress party’s Sanjay Shukla. In 2018, the seat was won by Shukla, while in the 2013 state polls, Sudarshan Gupta of the BJP emerged victorious here.

Vijayvargiya, the national general of the saffron party, is believed to pose a tough challenge to Shukla. Moreover, the BJP emerged victorious in this seat in 2008 and 2013, and the party aims to reclaim it once again.

Sanjay Shukla secured a win with a margin of 8,163 votes, obtaining a vote share of 50.24 percent, indicating a closely contested battle in the segment.

Lahar: The seat holds a prominent place among constituencies, with the Congress party’s stronghold, anchored by Dr. Govind Singh, undefeated since 1990. He is contesting against BJP’s Ambrish Sharma.

Singh, a supporter of senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, boasts an unbroken record of victories. His commanding lead of over 9,000 votes in 2018 reaffirms his stature as a strong contender. With a substantial vote share of 40.11 percent, he presents a significant force in this electoral contest.