Assembly Elections 2018 LIVE: Who said what

With election trends showing reverses for the BJP, senior BJP leader and Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the polls were fought on the basis of the performance of state governments, rejecting the notion that the results would be a reflection of the Modi government.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament, he also offered his congratulations to all the winning parties and candidates.

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot Tuesday exuded confidence that the party will form the government in the state and Rahul Gandhi as well as the party's MLAs will decide on who will be the chief minister.

He said the Congress was marching towards victory in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and the trend would continue in the future in the rest of India. "People have blessed us. We should get a comfortable majority in Rajasthan," Pilot told reporters here. Asked about who will be the chief minister, Pilot said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and the party's MLAs will decide on it. Asserting that it is a decisive day today, Pilot recalled that exactly a year ago Gandhi became the chief of the party. "What could be a better gift to him than victory in these states," Pilot said.

PCC president @SachinPilot wins by a huge margin of 53570 votes He defeated @YoonusKhanbjp the lone Muslim candidate fielded by #BJP #RESULT2018 #RajasthanElections2018 @dna

BJP is currently trailing in Chhattisgarh. BJP is just ahead in 21 of the 90 seats. Congress is heading for a two-third majority. Raman Singh is barely ahead from his own seat, which indicates the overall performance graph of BJP. 

Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a real close fight with BJP ahead in 110 and Congress in 109, at 1PM. However, Congress is confident of victory as there are six candidates from BSP who are currently ahead in the polls. 

In southern Telangana, trends indicated a clear landslide verdict for the Telangana Rashtra Samiti with leads in 90 seats. The Congress was way behind with leads in 21 seats, according to the Election Commission. The BJP was ahead in one and the TDP in two.

Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya believes that the party will scrape through Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. However, BJP has been handed a bitter pill in Chhattisgarh. About that, BJP leader said that the party will introspect. 

Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh Cong President said 'entire credit goes to the party'.

आश्वस्त रहें, मेरे पसीने की एक एक बूंद छत्तीसगढ़ की जनता के हित में बहेगी। https://t.co/QXADS6VLQZ

गढ़बो नवा छत्तीसगढ़।

"We are confident that the Congress will get a clear majority and will form government in Rajasthan," senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot told PTI. He said the decision on the chief minister's post will be taken by party president Rahul Gandhi. Gehlot also credited Gandhi with the party's good performance in all the five states, saying he raised issues concerning the public on which the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not have any answers. "This is a clear indication of things to come in 2019. The BJP made tall promises, but could not fulfil them. The Achhe Din' they spoke about never came," he told reporters in Jaipur.

"TDP respects the mandate of people of #Telangana. Congratulations to Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Also, best wishes to all the newly elected public representatives of 5 states." Chandrababu Naidu 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while reacting to election trends, termed the assembly poll results as 'semi-final' ahead of the 2019 'final match'. In a series of tweets, she said it is the people who are always the "man of the match" in a democracy. She said, "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," she said. Stating that people have voted against the BJP, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief asserted, "People voted against BJP. This is the people?s verdict and victory of the people of this country. 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."

KCR said: "TRS dedicates victory in assembly poll to Telangana people.  We should be humble in victory; mightier the victory the more the responsibility. 

Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM: I say this with all responsibility that K Chandrasekhar Rao has all capabilities & capacities to ensure that a non-Congress govt comes into existence when the next parliament election takes place & this country requires a non-Congress & a non-BJP govt.

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

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.”

On Tuesday, PM Modi reacted to the 2018 Assembly Election results and thanked BJP workers. He also congratulated Congress, KCR and MNF.

He wrote on Twitter: “The family of BJP Karyakartas worked day and night for the state elections. I salute them for their hardwork. Victory and defeat are an integral part of life. Today’s results will further our resolve to serve people and work even harder for the development of India. Congratulations to the Congress for their victories. Congratulations to KCR Garu for the thumping win in Telangana and to the Mizo National Front (MNF) for their impressive victory in Mizoram. We accept the people’s mandate with humility. I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people.”