MP Assembly Election Results 2018: 4 independents likely to return to Congress, Rahul to take decision on CM's name

The Congress on Wednesday emerged as the single-largest party in Madhya Pradesh where it won 114 of 230 assembly seats but failed to achieve the majority mark of 116. This will, however, soon change as four Congress rebels who contested and won as independents are likely to return home. 

The four Independents are: Kedar Chidabhai Dawar from Bhagwanpura, Thakur Surendra Singh Naval Singh from Burhanpur, Vikaram Singh Rana Guddu Bhai from Susner and Pradeep Amratlal Jaiswal (Gudda) from  Waraseoni.

Congress sources in Bhopal said they are likely to return to the party, taking the number of its legislators to 118, well beyond the magic number. The ruling BJP won 109 seats in the elections which were held on November 28. 

With the support of two BSP MLAs and one SP MLA, Congress has the backing of 121 MLAs in the 230-member Assembly. 

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel has called senior Congress leaders at the Raj Bhawan in Bhopal at noon for talks, after the party sought an appointment with her on the issue of formation of government in the state.

Senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, among others, will meet Patel.

Raj Bhawan sources confirmed that Patel has called the Congress leaders after they sought the appointment with her.

Late last night, without waiting for the final results, the Congress wrote to Governor Anandiben Patel, staking claim to form the government in the state. In a letter seeking time from the Governor, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath claimed the party had the support of the four independents also.

"The Congress party has emerged as the single largest party with a majority support. All the independents have in addition assured support to the Congress party," the letter said.

The question of who will be the next Chief Minister, however, remains with senior leaders leaving the decision to Delhi leadership and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who along with Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, led the party's campaign in the state, ducked the question on who will be the Chief Minister and added that the party high command will take a call in this regard.

Newly-elected Congress legislators are expected to meet at 4 pm today where they are likely to pass a one-line resolution authorising the party high command to take a decision.