State elections 2023: Madhya Pradesh to go for polls on November 17, see details

Madhya Pradesh has a total of 5.6 crore voters, comprising 2.88 crore males, 2.72 crore females, and 22.36 lakh first-time voters.

Madhya Pradesh is gearing up for its next government as the Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 9 announced that polling in single phase will take place in the state on November 17, with vote counting and result declaration scheduled for December 3.

The state has 230 assembly constituencies, with the majority mark set at 116. Among these constituencies, there are 148 general seats, 35 reserved for Scheduled Castes, and 47 for Scheduled Tribes.

The state has a total of 5.6 crore voters, comprising 2.88 crore males, 2.72 crore females, and 22.36 lakh first-time voters.

Madhya Pradesh has long witnessed intense electoral battles between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its primary rival, the Congress. In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress secured 114 seats, falling just two seats short of the majority mark, while the BJP won 109 seats.

The Congress managed to form the government with the support of two Bahujan Samajwadi Party MLAs, one Samajwadi Party MLA, and four independent MLAs.

However, the political landscape shifted dramatically 15 months later on March 21 when 22 sitting Congress MLAs, under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia, defected to the BJP. This led to the collapse of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government.

In the subsequent 2020 by-polls held in 28 assembly segments, the BJP secured 19 seats, while the Congress managed only 9. Currently, the BJP holds 127 MLAs, while the Congress has 96 legislators.

To counteract anti-incumbency sentiments, the BJP has strategically nominated three Union ministers, including Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, a four-time MP, who will contest from Dimani.

Jal Shakti Minister Prahlad Patel, an eight-time MP, will be contesting from Narsinghpur seat, and Union Minister of State for Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste will contest from Niwas. The party has also fielded four other MPs in various constituencies.

While the Congress is yet to release list of candidates, discussions took place during the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on October 9. The Congress has been using its rallies to criticise the government on issues such as corruption, unemployment, and inflation.