Congress to form MP government as BJP concedes defeat; CM resigns

The Congress is all set to form the government in Madhya Pradesh with the support of three MLAs of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) and four Independents.

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath would be meeting Governor Anandiben Patel to stake claim to form the government that was made easier by the resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who conceded defeat.

After submitting his resignation to the Governor, Chouhan said: "I have tendered my resignation to the Governor. The responsibility of defeat is totally mine."

The Congress fell two short of the halfway mark when it won 114 seats as the battle went to the wire on Tuesday, with the BJP securing 109 seats in the 230-member Assembly.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party, which contested on their own bagged two and one seats, respectively in the final tally in Madhya Pradesh.

Four Independent candidates, most of whom were Congress rebels also won the election.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Shobha Oza told reporters that the party has the support of 121 MLAs, including two BSP, one SP and four Independent MLAs.

--IANS

aks/in