Bhopal: Bhartiya Janata Party's only Muslim candidate in Madhya Pradesh Arif Baig who is contesting from Bhopal North is leading.
Early trends show Arif Baig is leading in Bhopal North with 20,656 votes. Sitting Congress MLA Arif Aqeel trailing with 18,604 votes.
The ruling BJP seems all set to retain power in Madhya Pradesh, where the party has been in power the past 10 years.
The Bharatiya Janata Party surged ahead in 145 seats, comfortably breaching the half way mark in the 230-member assembly.
The opposition Congress was in the second spot, leading in 74 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party tally stood at five seats and others were six.
The BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was quick to hail Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who now gets to continue in office for a third consecutive term.
"Called Shivraj ji to congratulate him for BJP's wonderful performance in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections!," tweeted Modi after the BJP headed to a thumping victory in Madhya Pradesh.
Chouhan, 53, was first appointed chief minister in 2005. Before that, the BJP's Uma Bharati became the chief minister in 2003 and after she quit, Babulal Gaur became the chief minister for a short while.
"The chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is heading for the hat-trick in the state," said state BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar.
The vote count started across 51 districts at 8 a.m. Postal ballots were counted first and half an hour later, the counting of ballots cast through the electronic voting machines (EVMs) began.
As many as 2,583 candidates battled it out in the election for which polling took place Nov 25.
The electoral battle was primarily between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, with the BJP trouncing the latter.
As the results began to pour in, the BJP workers began celebrating across the sprawling state.
They fire crackers, beat drums, distributed sweets and waved their party flag, celebrating the poll success.
In the last assembly, the BJP had 143 members and the Congress 71. The voting percentage this time was 70 percent of the total electorate of 4,64,57,724.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
Why is rape in Goa different from rape in Muzaffarnagar?Among the refugees were scores of women, raped in front of their parents and children and who are still waiting for the wheels of justice to move at all. In Tarun's case there is that uncertainty as to what really happened. Here is rape with as many witnesses . .... More
Also Read: Two months on, peace still eludes Muzaffarnagar
South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Mandela dies at 95Mandela had been receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after three months in hospital. He led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after having spent 27 years in prison, BBC reported...... More
Also Read: Gandhian Nelson Mandela: A hero who battled apartheid
The Hindutva camp is aware that the idea of the left-right, secular-communal divide between the two towering personalities of the independence movement is a part of the Indian mindset and that it will be unrealistic to try to ignore.... More
Mehmoodur Rehman committee ReportMehmoodur Rehman committee strengthens Muslim claim on Ismail Yusuf land
"We are fighting with the government as well as in court for the possession of Ismail Yusuf College and its adjoining land since last fifty years. After the recommendation made by Dr. Mehmoodur Rehman committee we are sure the .... More
Also Read: Muslim women group demands ban on 'Triple Talaq in one sitting'
