BJP to retain power in MP, Chhattisgarh: survey

In Madhya Pradesh, the saffron party may retain power by winning between 148 and 160 seats in the 230 member assembly

The BJP is likely to retain power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, a latest pre-poll survey says.

The CNN-IBN-The Week survey, conducted by CSDS, claims that BJP will secure 61-71 seats in Chhattisgarh whereas Congress is likely to get between 16 and 24 seats. It shows that BJP's vote share may rise by 5.7% since 2008 polls against a drop in Congress' vote share by 6.6% since the last polls.

In Madhya Pradesh, the survey claims that BJP is likely to retain power by winning between 148 and 160 seats in the 230 member assembly, with Congress securing between 52 and 62 seats.

The BJP is likely to get a 44% vote share with Congress' 33%. The pre-poll survey says BJP's vote share may rise by 6.4% since polls in 2008; whereas Congress vote share may rise by just 0.6% since the last polls.