INDIA
Small parties & independents hold key to power in central Indian state
The unprecedented neck and neck fight between ruling BJP and Congress has taken people aback with a small number of independents holding the key to power in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Delay in announcing the results enraged both the political parties and its hundreds of workers.
When the election result trends started pouring in by the afternoon, it was clear that the Congress had dethroned the saffron party, which had its stranglehold over the state for the last 15 years. But by evening, as the see-saw battle intensified with each constituency showing a tough and close fight, BJP inched closer to forming the government.
By the time of filing the report, the political situation was extremely tense in MP, there appeared only a difference of one seat with BJP showing 110 seats and Congress bagging 111 seats of the 230 seat assembly and changing every now and then. As many as nine other candidates were said to be the winners, holding key power. A handful number of Congress and BJP rebel candidates had won from different places.
The Congress office here which saw party men starting fireworks and celebrations by the afternoon wore a tense look by late evening. Senior leaders Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Digvijay Singh and lawyer-politician Vivek Tankha were holed up in a confidential meeting. A CLP meeting has been called by PCC chief Bath on Wednesday afternoon here. All the winners have been summoned to Bhopal.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh's residence, which also saw hectic parleys beginning by late evening, largely wore a deserted look with not many party workers making a beeline to Shamla Hills overlooking the picturesque Upper Lake.
CM Shivraj Singh successfully retained his Budni seat while Digvijay Singh's son Jaiwardhan and brother Lakshman Singh won by handsome margin bolstering Congress hopes.
Stalwarts from Congress like Suresh Pachauri, former union minister lost yet another election from Bhojpur and leader of opposition Ajay Singh (Churhat) came back from the brink of a defeat while from other areas reports of BJP ministers' defeat came in. Archana Chitnis and Rustam Singh's defeat came in. Chitnis lost to an independent Surendra Singh from Burhanpur, near Indore.
Union Minister Thaverchand Gehlot's son lost near Dewas so did BJP sitting MLA Sudarshan Gupta (Indore), and others. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya's son Akash was caught in a very close fight in Indore-3 against Congress' Ashwin Joshi. In nearby Ujjain, BJP fared well with Minister Paras Jain winning hands down but in Bundelkhand, two ministers Jayant Malaiya and Bhupendra Singh were fighting to do. In Bhopal, two Muslim Congress candidates recorded big wins.
The Election Commission had not yet come out with an official list of winners nor has it cited any reason for the delay in the counting of votes which went late into the night, creating huge political uncertainty.
Throughout the sprawling state, almost every constituency saw a tough fight, in some places even a triangular one, with either BJP rebel or Congress dissident playing the spoilsport.
Former Union minister and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kamal Nath has emerged as the top contender for the post of chief ministership in MP, top sources told DNA here.
With Congress certain of romping home with the help of independents and others, the party wants to bet on the seasoned leaders who have friends in all parties and proven abilities to win over fence-sitters.
Sources confirmed that former CM Digvijaya Singh had also lent support to Kamal Nath besides other factions. Scindia is the other leader in contention for the top job.
Many in party believe had Scindia been made the CM face, Congress would have easily won. The charismatic Guna MP has huge following across the state.
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