As exit polls by news channels on Thursday predicted a close contest in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who relied heavily on the Ladli Behana Yojana to beat off anti incumbency, remained confident of a BJP victory.
The BJP remained esctatic over the polls predicting it to retain power. It’s leaders have largely pinned their hopes on a host of welfare schemes targeted at the poorest sections of society.
“I have always said that there is no competition in Madhya Pradesh and BJP is going to get a clear majority. The love and guidance of PM Modi, the strategies of Amit Shah, the leadership of JP Nadda, the efforts of our workers and the schemes of our government made it clear that BJP is getting a majority in the state,” Chouhan said.
Medical education minister Vishwas Sarang said, “BJP will form the govt in Madhya Pradesh comfortably, with a majority. The people of Madhya Pradesh have made up their mind that a BJP government is formed…I don’t want to comment on the exit polls but, I can assure you on December 3, a BJP government will be formed.
The Congress party has largely remained unfazed by the exit polls. Former CM Kamal Nath expressed his confidence and said that on December 3, the public would vote in a Congress government.
“I have always told you that a country is run by vision, not by television. Many exit polls have shown Congress party forming the. government while some exit polls are saying otherwise. You don’t want to let all this distract you. Like Arjun,you have to keep your eyes only on your goal. You have to concentrate your full attention on the day of counting of votes and ensure that every vote received by the Congress is counted correctly andthe Congress government is formed in the state with an overwhelming majority,” Nath wrote on social media platform X.
Former CM Digvijay Singh said, “Exit poll results are very diverse. We cannot say anything about it. I can assure you that the Congress will get more than 130 seats in Madhya Pradesh…People want change…People are fed up with CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.”
Rau Congress MLA Jitu Patwari said, “BJP does not have a lead anywhere. Be it Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan, Congress is forming the govt in all four states. In Madhya Pradesh, Congress party will win 135 seats and form the government.”
The exit polls on Thursday predicted a close contest in Madhya Pradesh, where results to the 230 Assembly seats in the state will be announced on December 3, when the political future of four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Congress challenger Kamal Nath, the former CM, besides that of their several senior colleagues will be decided.
Six exit polls have given the Congress party an edge over the ruling BJP.
However, in a worrying sign for the opposition Congress party, four exit polls have predicted a BJP sweep in the state.