BJP retains power in MP, Chhattisgarh

BJP appeared on its way to retaining power in Madhya Pradesh winning 143 seats while Congress has won 71.

BSP won seven seats while Uma Bharti-led Bharatiya Janshakti Party (BJSH) bagged five seats. Samajwadi Party won only one seat and other independent candidates bagged three seats.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan won from his Budhni seat.

Staving off the anti-incumbency, the BJP also retained its lease over Chhattisgarh securing a comfortable majority with 50 seats in the elections to the 90-member state assembly, pushing main rival Congress to a distant second spot.

With results of all the seats declared, BJP, led by 56-year-old Chief Minister Raman Singh, finished with a haul of 50 seats, four more than the majority.

Among those who lost included Congress stalwarts Mahendra Karma, Leader of the Opposition in the assembly. The architect of the anti-naxal salwa Judum movement sufffered a shock defeat, dropping to third place behind the BJP and CPI candidates. PCC president Dharendra Sahu also lost.

On the other hand, Congress won 38 seats, one more than the last time, said Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Arvind Dixit.

Mayawati-led BSP won two seats while NCP and CPI bagged one each.

The legislature party meeting of BJP will be held here tomorrow where the formality of electing Raman Singh, projected as the chief ministerial candidate.

Singh is expected to be sworn in as chief minister by December 12, BJP sources said.

After the initial neck-and-neck race between the two major contenders for power, the BJP broke away with the decisive lead in terms of number of seats across the state.

Conceding his party's defeat, Congress' charismatic spearhead in the election Ajit Jogi said, "We accept the people's mandate and will play the role of constructive opposition."