With just hours remaining until the much-anticipated announcement of Assembly election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, the nation holds its breath, considering these elections as the semi-finals for the upcoming Lok Sabha in 2024.
The BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is ruling Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In Telangana, the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has been in power since 10 years and in Mizoram, the MNF is ruling.
So far, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is moving towards a win in 3 states — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, while the Indian National Congress (INC) seems set to take power from BRS in Telangana.
The Poll of polls earlier predicted a decisive win for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and a clear majority for the Congress in Telangana. It also predicted the BJP maintaining a lead in Rajasthan, and the Congress in Chhattisgarh. Although the overall trends stayed the same, Chhattisgarh's results brought a surprise.
Madhya Pradesh:
Exit Polls Prediction: The Poll of Polls foresaw a BJP victory in Madhya Pradesh with 124 seats, while Congress was projected to settle for 102. Total seats are 230.
Current Trends: BJP has surged ahead, already crossing the 160-mark out of the 230 total seats. Congress trails with 66 seats. The results suggest a decisive lead for the BJP.
Rajasthan:
Exit Polls Prediction: In Rajasthan, the Poll of Polls predicted a continuation of the 30-year-old trend, foreseeing a comfortable win for the BJP with 104 seats, while the Congress-led alliance was expected to secure 85 seats. Total seats are 200. However, the counting of votes will be for 199 seats, due to the death of the Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar in Sriganganagar's Karanpur seat.
Current Trends: The BJP has surpassed expectations, securing 112 seats, while the INC and its alliance lags behind at 72. The current results indicate a significant lead for the BJP.
Telangana:
Exit Polls Prediction: The Poll of Polls predicted a Congress government with an expected 62 seats, with the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samith (BRS) securing 44. Total seats are 119.
Current Trends: Congress and its alliance currently hold 64 seats, BRS at 41, and BJP and its alliance at 8. Congress appears to be heading for a clear majority, as predicted by the exit polls.
Chhattisgarh:
Exit Polls Prediction: The Poll of Polls forecasted a Congress win in Chhattisgarh, predicting the BJP to settle at 38 seats. Total seats are 90.
Current Trends: The actual results paint a different picture, with the BJP at 55 seats and Congress at 32. The competition between BJP and Congress is neck-to-neck in Chattisgarh and the state proved to be the most unpredictive one.
