MP Assembly Election Results 2018: Cong fails to touch majority mark, stakes claim to form govt with independents' help

The Congress will have to enlist the support of at least one of the four independents and the lone Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate elected in Madhya Pradesh to form the next government in the state.

As of 7 am on Wednesday, the results for 227 of the 230 seats have been declared. The Congress has won 112 and is leading in 2 seats. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 108 seats and leading in another one. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has won two seats. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has won one seat and Independent candidates have won four.

Madhya Pradesh Assembly election fina results- Total seats: 230

BSP: 2

BJP: 109

Congress: 114

Samajwadi Party: 1

Independents: 4

The results of all 230 seats have been declared.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has won from his traditional Budhni seat by a margin of 58,999 votes, defeating former Union minister and senior Congress leader Arun Yadav.

Counting for the election, held on November 28, began at 8 am Tuesday.

Following is the party position in the outgoing House: BJP -165, Congress - 58, BSP - four and Independents - three. 

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath wrote to Governor Anandiben Patel late on Tuesday night, staking claim to form the government in the state, a party spokesperson said.

The party claimed it has the support of the independent candidates 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.

"As the president of Pradesh Congress Committee, I seek an appointment with your Excellency late tonight, as soon as the results are officially declared along with my senior leaders to apprise you and seek your permission to form government in the state of Madhya Pradesh," Nath said in the letter.