Counting of votes is well underway for assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana - with the BJP poised to win in all three heartland states. In Mizoram, the counting will take place tomorrow. These assembly elections are being seen as a semi-final contest ahead of the general elections in less than six months.
The Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.
Anticipation is at an all-time high for citizens and party workers as the counting of votes began at 8 am. Security at the counting centres has also been stepped up.
As the BJP headed towards a comfortable victory in three states, industrialist Harsh Goenka reacted
I asked Swami Harshanand “What a phenomenal sweep by BJP! How did this happen- can you explain to me in short?”
He replied “MHTMH!”#ElectionResults— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) December 3, 2023
#WATCH | #TelanganaElection2023 | Congress president Revanth Reddy conducts a roadshow in Hyderabad as the party continues its comfortable lead in the state. pic.twitter.com/Kpzj5hxe1k— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
By 12.30 pm, the BJP was comfortably in the lead in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan received a rose from Radha Bai, who looks after the gardens at the CM's residence.
VIDEO | Radha Bai, who looks after the garden at the CM residence, congratulated @ChouhanShivraj by gifting him a flower as the BJP takes a comfortable lead in #MadhyaPradeshElections2023. pic.twitter.com/nKVaqX1rwn— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023
#WATCH | #TelanganaAssemblyElections2023 | CM Camp Office in Hyderabad wears a deserted look as the ruling BRS trails in the state election, as per official EC trends. Chief Minister and party chief K Chandrashekar Rao is currently at the CM residence.Congress is leading in… pic.twitter.com/KidmLpbBD6
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
By 11:30 am, BJP workers at the party office in Jaipur were filmed dancing as the party continued to lead in Rajasthan
#WATCH | #RajasthanElections2023 | BJP workers dance and celebrate at the party office in Jaipur as the party continues its lead in the state.As per official EC trends, BJP - 115 and Congress - 67 here. pic.twitter.com/sRyvMRIk6k
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
Visuals from BJP office in Bhopal as trends suggest party leading in Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.#AssemblyElectionsWithPTI pic.twitter.com/XPd6PCF3Us— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023
Anand Mahindra is today glued to his TV screen as the counting of votes began at 8 am. For Mahindra -- a sports buff who also enjoys watching movies -- "democracy in action" is far more gripping than either pastime.
Democracy in action is far more gripping & thrill-inducing than ANY sport or blockbuster movie… pic.twitter.com/FRtsVKnWiM— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 3, 2023
Visuals from outside Congress office in Raipur as initial trends favour Congress in Chhattisgarh polls.#AssemblyElectionsWithPTI #ChhattisgarhElections2023 pic.twitter.com/HSKnSZljiR— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023
Luxury buses were seen parked outside the five-star Taj hotel in Hyderabad, Telangana, news agency ANI reported.
Telangana | Luxury buses have been stationed at Hyderabad's Taj Krishna. pic.twitter.com/1hJsAsfJrd— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
#WATCH | Counting of votes | Rajasthan: BJP MP and candidate from Vidhyadhar Nagar, Diya Kumari offers prayers at Govind Devji temple in Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/TMw5iqmtzJ— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
BJP workers were seen keeping an eye on early trends of postal ballots as counting of votes began.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh BJP War Room in Bhopal keeps an eye on initial trends of postal ballots and EVM results on counting day pic.twitter.com/GRSuZUHKM5— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
#WATCH | Congress Control Room for Chhattisgarh elections in Raipur busy with party leaders watching initial trends on the counting day pic.twitter.com/CN82IihdUd— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
At the counting centre in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, an EVM strong room was secured by a brick wall. The wall was broken as counting began.
#WATCH | Brick-wall secured EVM strong room opened at a counting centre in Morena of Madhya Pradesh as counting of votes gets underway pic.twitter.com/6cDnKCCty4— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
आज जनादेश का दिन है.जनता जनार्दन को प्रणाम.
सभी प्रत्याशियों को शुभकामनाएँ.
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) December 3, 2023
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh predicted a comfortable victory for the party in Madhya Pradesh.
#WATCH | Counting of votes | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says, "...I had said this earlier and I say it today as well - 130 plus. We are getting 130 seats, rest is to be seen."On incumbent CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, he says, "Not only is his… pic.twitter.com/y1NhF5f36R
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
VIDEO | Congress leaders and workers worship at party headquarters in Delhi ahead of the counting of votes in four states today. pic.twitter.com/n4LRxEQ6OH— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2023
Shortly before the counting of votes for the assembly election in four states is set to begin, a Congress worker showed up at the party’s Delhi headquarters dressed as Lord Hanuman.
The party worker dressed as Lord Hanuman was asked by ANI what he thinks will happen today. “The truth will triumph. Jai Shree Ram,” he chanted in response.
#WATCH | Ahead of the counting of 4-state elections, a Congress worker - dressed as Lord Hanuman - stands outside the party HQ in Delhi.He says, "Truth will triumph. Jai Sri Ram!" pic.twitter.com/L61e28tBln
— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
#WATCH | 'Ladoos' brought to Congress headquarters in Delhi as the party is all set for election results in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana pic.twitter.com/XBvUpAOIzM— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2023
Meanwhile, memes on the assembly elections and counting of votes are being shared in large numbers on social media.
Starting with postal ballots, counting will commence at 8 am amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana and 199 seats in Rajasthan as polling on one seat in the desert state was put off due to the death of a candidate.
(With inputs from PTI)
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