The congress has not won consecutive elections in the same state in over two decades, the last time it successfully defended a government was Madhya Pradesh in 1993 and 1998, when Digvijaya Singh was chief minister and it defeated the BJP and won 174 and 172 of the 230 seats. That unwelcome streak can come to an end today with victory in Chhattisgarh where early trends have given Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s congress government is in the lead.

The Congress’s score may not be as impressive as the 68 in 2018, but if the party does retain Chhattisgarh it will be a big boost ahead of the next year’s Lok Sabha elections. And if CM Baghel is sworn in for a second term, it will be despite a last minute controversy. Allegations of corruption four days before the elections – posed a threat to the Congress campaign.

The allegations were made after the Enforcement Directorate, which the opposition says is used by the BJP to target rivals before elections. They also arrested a hawala courier with Rs 5 crore. The courier named Baghel as one of those receiving kickbacks from an illegal online gaming app.

A week after the second and final phase of elections the courier retracted the allegation. Away from the corruption allegation the Congress’s re-election campaign was built on a pro poor and pro farmer platform which included Baghel’s price support guarantee for rice, a scheme to purchase cow dung for Rs 2 per kg, and the promise of loan waivers.

Baghel came in support of OBC voters. This was a total of 40% of the state population to plot a rebirth of the Congress in 2018, after the 2013 Maoist attack and wiped out its state leadership. In the 2023 election Congress chief minister changed tracks. He claimed improvements in infrastructure development, increased support for farmers, who constitute by some estimates, a massive 90 % of Chattisgarh’s population.   

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said he was confident the BJP will win with huge majority in Rajasthan ahead of counting of votes in Rajasthan. He said the fight today is between the massive governance of Prime minister Narendra Modi and the misgovernance of the Congress party.

The Congress party will try to return to power again. The BJP’s election campaign will be focused on an anti incumbency wave in the state. Rathore said the fact that people of the state had come out in large numbers to vote meant that they wanted to bring a change. According to exit polls the BJP have a slight edge over the ruling Congress party in Rajasthan. He said there won’t be a close contest and the BJP will win the elections with a vast majority.

Rajyavardhan Rathore said the party leadership will announce who will be the chief minister after the results have been declared. He said everything comes at the right time. He said once the results are out the party leadership will take the decision at the right time.

The campaign has been intense on both sides. The BJP had pulled all stops in line with an established election template as senior ministers had been deployed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress had followed a grassroots campaign with frequent appearances by its central leaders.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot said he was confident that he had beaten the jinx on the fortunes of the party in power. The BJP rode high on the trend and the power of brand Modi. Eight of the nine exit polls gave the BJP a comfortable, if not a strong victory. The aggregrate indicated that the BJP may get 104 seats and Congress 86. But like the difference in the price of cooking gas they are offering- The Congress party – Rs 500 and the BJP’s Rs 450: the gap is marginal.

Congress gains 57 seats in Chhattisgarh, BJP 33

So far, Congress has gained 57 seats and BJP 33 seats in Chhattisgarh. Congress’s heavyweight Bhupesh Baghel is leading in Patan constituency, his nephew Vijay Baghel trails behind.

Congress crosses halfway mark in Telangana in early leads

Congress crossed the halfway mark in Telangana with 65 seats. BJP, BRS, AIMIM gained 9, 39, 4 seats respectively. K Chandrashekar Rao is trailing in Kamareddy constituency.

Congress trails behind in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot leads in Sardarpura constituency

With 107 seats, BJP is leading in Rajasthan. Congress gained 80 seats. Congress’s Ashok Gehlot is leading in Sardarpura constituency, Sachin Pilot is trailing in Tonk. BJP’s Vasundhara Raje, Baba Balaknath, Diya Kumari is leading in Jhalrapatan, Tijara, Vidhyadhar Nagar respectively. 

BJP gains 126 seats in Madhya Pradesh, Congress close behind 

In the early trends, BJP gained 126 seats in Madhya Pradesh and Congress 99. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Prahlad Singh Patel from BJP are leading in Budhni and Narsinghpur while Narendra Singh Tomar is trailing in Dimani. Congress’s Kamal Nath is leading and Jaivardhan Singh is trailing in Raghogadh.

Congress’s Bhupesh Baghel, BJP’s Raman Singh trails in Chhattisgarh

Congress took the lead in Chhattisgarh with 52 seats, BJP 33. Congress heavyweight leader Bhupesh Baghel is trailing in Patan constituency. BJP’s Raman Singh is also trailing i9n Rajnandgaon constituency. Congress’s Tamradhwaj Sahu and BJP’s Vijay Baghel is leading in Durg-Rural and Patan respectively.

Tight race between Congress, BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan

In Madhya Pradesh, BJP is leading with 88 seats, Congress gained 72. While in Rajasthan, BJP got 80 seats with Congress gaining 74.

Congress takes huge lead in Telangana

With 61 seats, Congress takes a huge lead in Telangana. BRS gains 25, BJP 9 and AIMIM 1. BRS’s R. S Praveen Kumar, K C Rao, Jogu Ramanna, Pocharam Srinivas are trailing in their constituencies.

Congress gains in Chhattisgarh, BJP close

In Chhattisgarh, Congress gained 41 seats while BJP got 30. Bhupesh Baghel is trailing in Patan constituency. Congress’s Tamradhwaj Sahu is leading in Durg-rural. BJP’s Raman Singh is leading in Rajnandgaon.

Congress leads in Rajasthan with 49 seats

As the tight election battle continues, Congress is leading in Rajasthan with 49 seats, while BJP gains 40 seats. Ashok Gehlot is leading in Sardarpura constituency, Sachin Pilot in Tonk.

BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Congress’s Kamal Nath leading in Madhya Pradesh

BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan is leading in Budhni constituency, Narendra Singh Tomar in Dimani constituency, Prahlad Singh Patel in Narsingpur constituency. Congress’s Kamal Nath and Jaivardhan Singh are leading in Chhindwara and Raghogadh respectively.  

Congress leads in Telangana, BJP in Chattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, Congress gained 19 seats and BJP 20. Congress leading in Telangana with 13 seats, BRS 8, BJP 5, AIMIM 1

BJP takes early leads in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan

In Madhya Pradesh, Congress and BJP are in a tough battle as the early trends show BJP with 13 seats and Congress 11. In Rajasthan, BJP got 21 seats and Congress 20

Counting of votes begins in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana

A few months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the votes will be counted for four states today. Officials stated that all arrangements have been made at the counting halls and that the security personnel are deployed in an adequate numbers in all constituencies.