Exuding confidence over his party's performance in the assembly elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that he has "learnt a lot" from the 2014 elections and that Prime Minister Modi had a huge opportunity after the Lok Sabha polls but failed to "listen to the heartbeat of the country"
The counting of votes for the assembly election in five states which began at 8 am on Monday is continuing with Congress, MNF and TRS emerging victorious in Chattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana respectively, as per latest figures.
The outcome of the election results is significant as it may impact 2019 Lok Sabha elections and is seen as a pre-2019 General Elections referendum on the BJP.
The Congress which was in power in Mizoram was ousted by the MNF which has won 26 seats in the state assembly. But it is slated to win Chhattisgarh where Raman Singh tendered his resignation as Chief Minister after the indications of BJP's defeat become clear even as the final tally from Election Commission (EC) is yet to come.
Congress is also leading the race in Rajasthan but is in a tight race with the BJP in Madhya Prades where three-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh is still seen as a popular leader.
In the multi-phase polling, Chhattisgarh voted on November 12 (18 seats) and November 20 (72 seats); Madhya Pradesh (230 seats) and Mizoram (40 seats) on November 28; and Rajasthan (199 seats) and Telangana (119 seats) on December 7.
Below are the updates:
8:53pm: Vasundhara Raje has submitted her resignation to Rajasthan Governor.
8:20 pm: In Madhya Pradesh, BJP has bagged 29 seats and is leading in 82 seats while the Congress has won 27 and is leading in 84 seats.
8:15 pm: "I have learnt a lot from the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi had a huge opportunity after 2014 but he failed to listen to the heartbeat of the country", said Rahul Gandhi after assembly election results.
8:10 pm: 'I thank people and Congress workers. The victory is of farmers and youths," says Rahul Gandhi at a press conference in Delhi.
8:05 pm: "The process of loan waiver for farmers will start as soon as our governments are formed," says Rahul Gandhi. He also praised Congress workers and likened them to babbar sher.
8:00 pm: "We will defeat BJP in 2019 as well but we don't want a BJP mukt Bharat, says Rahul Gandhi", says Rahul Gandhi after election results
7:58 pm: "Frankly PM is paralysed, he is not able to respond, he is unable to take pressure coming from the opposition," says Rahul Gandhi after election results.
7:50 pm: Addressing a press conference in Delhi Congress president Rahul Gandhi said: "With a resurgent Congress party and a combined opposition it will become very difficult for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP to win the Lok Sabha elections in 2019".
7:20 pm: In Madhya Pradesh, Congress leads in 113 seats while the BJP is ahead in 109. Others are leading in 9 seats and the BSP in 2 seats.
6:50 pm: "This is very disappointing. I didn't expect this. I think I underestimated the new formation ZPM," said outgoing CM of Mizoram Lal Thanhawla after he submitted his resignation to the Governor.
6:40 pm: "I congratulate Congress, MNF for their success. It clearly shows the mood of the nation. These states are pre-dominantly agrarian states and BJP government in the Centre has more or less ignored the Swaminathan report recommendations and loan problems of the farmers," said Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik reacting to the assembly election results.
6:30 pm: "Democracy has won. Thank you India, you have chosen love over hate, peace over violence and truth over lies", tweets Congress on assembly election results.
6:15 pm: Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje wins in Jhalarapatan seat by 34,980 votes, defeating Congress' Manvendra Singh, reports PTI
6:10 pm: According to the latest trends in Madhya Pradesh, Congress is leading in 112 seats in the state. The BJP has a lead in 110 seats in the Shivraj Singh led the state. Others are leading in 6 states while BSP is ahead in 2.
6:05 pm: Visuals of Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and other Congress leaders in Jaipur. Congress party has won 46 seats in Rajasthan and is leading on 51 seats, all set to come back in the state.
6:00 pm: This is a victory of democracy. BJP had a lot of money and a team of corrupt officers, they also had conspirators in their pocket. Despite all of this, the mandate given by the people in Chhattisgarh is historic, says Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh Congress President, after Congress surges towards a certain win in the state.
5: 55 pm: "After seeing K Chandrasekhar Rao from very close quarters I feel that this nation deserves a leader like him and I hope that next step he'll take will be successful and I will stand shoulder to shoulder with him ensuring that in 2019 election there is a non-Congress & non-BJP government", says Asaduddin Owaisi after TRS victory in Telangana.
5:48 pm: This is the victory of Rahul Gandhi, our party, workers, people, and the fight against scams. This is the victory of humanity, said Congress' Kapil Sibal.
5:43 pm: Speaking to media, outgoing Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh said he has tendered his resignation to the Governor
5:38 pm: We Focused More On Ram Temple, Name Changing, Forgot Development, Says BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade
With trends that emerged till Tuesday evening showing Congress leading in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and a neck-and-neck fight in Madhya Pradesh, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade said the party lost because rather than development; Ram Mandir and statues became party's focus.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2Px2mUL
5:36 pm: Infighting, Need For Change Lead To Congress’ Fall In Mizoram
Mizo National Front (MNF) regained power in Mizoram after a decade of Congress rule. The MNF, led by veteran Zoramthanga, got a majority in the 40-member assembly.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2Gc8ZMP
5:35 pm: Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla submits resignation to Governor K Rajasekharan.
5:20 pm: We should be humble in victory; mightier the victory, more the responsibility, says TRS chief Chandrasekhar Rao after his party is poised to retain Telangana.
Will Madhya Pradesh finally fall in Congress’ lap?
Outlook's Editor Ruben Banerjee and Political Editor Bhavna Vij-Aurora discuss with CSDS Director Dr. Sanjay Kumar in a Facebook Live.
4:50 pm: Reacting to his party's resounding victory in the assembly elections in Mizoram, Mizo National Front (MNF)President Zoramthanga said:"Since I am going to form the govt now my first priorities will be three things—to impose a prohibition on liquor, repair roads and implement Social Economic Development Programme (SEDP) which is our flagship programme."
"We will not have any coalition govt either with BJP or any other ways because my party can form the govt on its own as we have got 26 seats out of 40. We're a part of NEDA(North-East Democratic Alliance) and NDA but we wouldn't like to join Congress or UPA," he added.
4:40 pm: National Vice-President of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Jayant Chaudhary issues a letter, states "Respecting the mandate of the people, party President Chaudhary Ajit Singh has directed the MLA of the party to help Congress form a stable govt." RLD is leading on 1 seat in Rajasthan.
4:30 pm: People recognize that BJP has done nothing in the last 5 years and are moving towards an alternative. People are with us in our fight against the BJP. These 5 states results will help form a strong alternative to the BJP, says Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, reports to ANI
4:15 pm: K Chandrsekhar Rao arrives at party headquarters in Hyderabad, he won from Gajwel constituency by over 50,000 votes. TRS is leading on 87 seats in the state.
4:10 pm: In Madhya Pradesh, Congress leading in 115 seats, BJP ahead in 105. BSP leads in 4 seats, others ahead in 7.
4:00 pm: Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot wins from Tonk assembly seat, defeating BJP's Yoonus Khan by 54,179 votes, reports PTI.
3:50 pm: Congress legislative party in Rajasthan to meet Wednesday morning, says state Congress president Sachin Pilot.
3:45 pm: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje wins the Jhalrapatan Assembly seat, defeating Congress' rival Manvendra Singh.
3:40 pm: MNF gets majority in 40-member Mizoram Assembly, ousts Congress out of its last bastion in North-east.
3:35 pm: Newly elected Congress MLAs of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will meet in Raipur and Jaipur respectively tomorrow, reports ANI.
3:30 pm: Chhattisgarh Congress President Bhupesh Baghel arrives at Congress office in Raipur. He says, “People of Chhattisgarh took the fight in their own hands. We are grateful to Rahul Gandhi, we fought for the people. We got more seats than expected, high command will decide who will be the Chief Minister,” reported ANI.
3:20 pm: In Madhya Pradesh, Congress is leading in 113 seats in the state. BJP is ahead in 106 while the BSP is leading in 4. Others have a lead in 7 seats.
3:10 pm: "2019 will be BJP Mukt Bharat (BJP-free India)," senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said in reaction to the assembly election trends indicated that the saffron party was trailing in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. "The results of assembly polls indicate that people are fed up with jumla (rhetoric)," he added.
3:05 pm: T. Harish Rao , nephew of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K. Chandrashekhar Rao has won from Siddipet seat in Telangana by over 1.20 lakh votes.
3:00 pm: AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi wins from Chandrayangutta constituency in Telangana for fifth time in a row. Defeats nearest BJP rival Syed Shehjadi by a margin of over 80,000 votes, reports PTI.
2:55 pm: Telangana caretaker minister and TRS candidate Talasani Srinivas Yadav wins from Sanath Nagar constituency by 30,217 votes, reports ANI.
2:50 pm: In Madhya Pradesh, Congress is leading in 108 seats while the BJP is ahead on 111. BSP is leading in 4 seats in the state. Others are leading in 7 seats.
2:40 pm: Celebrations outside Congress office in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Congress is leading on 63 out of 90 seats in the state.
2:30 pm: ‘It’s The Economy, Stupid': Biggest Lesson From Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh Trends
‘It’s the economy, stupid,’ so said the former US president Bill Clinton during his campaign in the early 1990s.
The famous saying is ringing true more than a decade-and-half later in the Hindi heartland as rising people’s anger against a sluggish economy and growing farmers’ distress dealt setbacks to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA, considered unassailable in elections over last several years.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2Ge0AZl
2:15 pm: "I knew we would lose in Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh but MP trends have come as a surprise. I think we forgot the issue of development that Modi took up in 2014. Ram Mandir, statues & name changing became the focus," says BJP Rajya Sabha MP- Sanjay Kakade.
Close contest continues between BJP & Congress, Asian Age's Sanjay Basak and Outlook's Giridhar Jha (Senior Editor) and Pranay Sharma (Chief of Bureau) discuss.
2:05 pm: TRS President and Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao wins from Gajwel constituency by over 50,000 votes, reports ANI.
(File Photo)
1:50 pm: In Madhya Pradesh, BJP leads in 111 seats while the Congress is ahead in 108 seats, according to the latest trends. BSP is leading in 4 seats and others have a lead in 7 seats in the state.
1:45 pm: Congress President Rahul Gandhi reaches Sonia Gandhi's residence, 10 Janpath, reports ANI.
1:42 pm: BJP's wrong policies have destroyed the country and this is a result of that. Any talk of an alliance will be done once the whole picture is clear, said Ramgopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party, commenting on the emerging trends in the assembly election results.
1:30 pm: In Hyderabad, Congress delegation submits a complaint to Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar raising suspicions that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been manipulated in the state, according to news agency ANI.
1:20 pm: Meanwhile in Kolkata, Congress workers celebrate on streets with posters of party president Rahul Gandhi.
1:15 pm: In Rajasthan, Congress is leading in 96 seats while the BJP is ahead in 80. BSP is leading in the state in 3 seats. Others have a lead in 20 seats.
1:10 pm: Latest trends indicate a clear win for MNF in Mizoram as it is leading in 24 seats in the state. The incumbent Congress is leading only in 6 seats while the BJP has a lead in 1 seat. Others are leading in 9 seats.
1:00 pm: We are moving towards a full majority and I am sure it will be clear once final numbers are in, but still we welcome all like-minded and anti-BJP parties to support us and we are in touch, says Congress leader Sachin Pilot, according to ANI.
12:50 pm: Congress workers celebrate in Raipur as latest trends show the party in a position of strength and set to unseat Raman Singh-led BJP government in the state.
Congress is leading in 66 seats while the BJP is ahead in 18. The BSP is leading in 5 seats and other on 1.
12:40 pm: Happy that BJP is losing, says former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. Early trends indicate a win for the Congress in the state.
12:35 pm: Tight race in Madhya Pradesh as both Congress and BJP lead in 109 seats each. BSP and others leading on 9 seats each.
12:20 pm: Nothing is yet clear from the trends. Congratulations to the MLA candidates and the political parties that are winning. But Mahagathbandhan has failed terribly in Telangana, says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, as early trends show Congress leading in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
12:10 pm: I won't say these are victories of Congress but this is an anger of the people. Self-reflection is needed: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut.
11:50 am: Reacting to the early trends that showed BJP trailing in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said "This is real indication of final match in 2019. People are always ‘man of the match’ in democracy," reported PTI.
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/2L8hbN2
11:45 am: Early trends -- Close contest in Madhya Pradesh, BJP leading in 114 seats and Congress 107; In Chhattisgarh, Congress leading in 57 seats as against 25 for BJP.
11:43 am: "I am having doubts on results we're getting in Telangana ballot paper counting. We're doubting that tampering could have been done in EVMs. Slips should be counted in VVPATs. All the Congress leaders will complaint to RO officers. We will also complaint to ECI on this matter. How can TRS leaders say before counting that who will lose in elections?," said Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Uttam Kumar Reddy, as early trends showed TRS set to retake the state.
11:40 am: Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has lost from Champhai South seat, MNF's TJ Lalnuntluanga has won, reports ANI.
11:35 am: "People have blessed us. We should get a comfortable majority in Rajasthan," Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, as early trends showed the party ahead of BJP. On the question of who will be the Chief Minister if the Congress wins, Pilot said party chief Rahul Gandhi and party's MLAs will decide on that.
11:30 am: AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi is leading in Chandrayangutta Assembly segment by 27,357 votes over his nearest BJP rival Syed Shehjadi after the sixth round, reports PTI.
11: 25 am: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan leading by a margin of over 6,000 votes in Budhni constituency after second round of counting, reports PTI.
11:10 am: Congress leading in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while TRS is surging ahead and establishing a clear lead in Telangana.
Outlook's Political Editor, Bhavna Vij-Aurora and Senior Editor Giridhar Jha discuss the early trends emerging from the assembly election results, live on Facebook.
11:00 am: As early trends suggested a close fight between the Congress and BJP in Madhya Pradesh, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath reacted saying " These are trends, but I am fully confident that we will get full majority"
10:50 am: Telangana Rashtriya Samiti members celebrate outside the party office in Hyderabad as the party leads in trend leaving behind Congress in the state.
10:45 am: TRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao's daughter K. Kavitha said that there was never a doubt that the party will retain power with a huge majority adding that "KCR's hard work has paid off"
10:40 am: MNF cadre distributing sweets at the party office in Aizawl as trends show it leading in Mizoram, ahead of the incumbent Congress.
10:35 am: Expressing confidence over Congress' electoral performance, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that Congress will get a clear majority in Madhya Pradesh.
10:30 am: The rupee opened weak at 72.42, showing a sharp plunge of 110 paise, and key stock exchanges had a gap-down opening on Tuesday on account of today's election results besides the surprise resignation of RBI Governor Urjit Patel on Monday.
10:15 am: Responding to the early trends that showed BJP trailing in 3 states behind Congress, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "these are early trends, we hope to perform well."
10:10 am: Congress leading in Madhya Pradesh in 110 seats, BJP in 106. BSP leading in 5, while others are leading in 7 seats.
10:05 am: In Rajasthan, Congress is leading in 100 seats while BJP in 80 seats. BSP is leading in 3 seats while others are leading in 9 seats.
10 am: Mizoram Chief Minister M Lal Thanhawla is trailing Lalduhoma of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) by 75 votes in Serchhip constituency, reports PTI.
9: 50 am: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot leading with a margin of 5,112 votes in Rajasthan's Sardarpura constituency, reports PTI.
9:47 am: In Telangana, TRS is leading in 80 seats while the Congress is leading in 20 seats. BJP is leading in 3 seats while others are leading in 5.
9:45 am: Rajasthan's Social Justice Minister Arun Chaturvedi is trailing by a margin of 2,467 votes in the civil lines constituency in Jaipur, reports PTI
9:40 am: Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje leading in Jhalrapatan constituency with a margin of 4055 votes. Congress candidate Manvendra Singh trailing, reports PTI.
9: 38 am: Congress candidate and Commonwealth gold medallist Krishna Poonia leading in Rajasthan's Sadulpur constituency with a margin of 646 votes in the first round of counting, reports PTI
9:30 am: Congress leading on 48 seats in Chhattisgarh, BJP on 32. BSP is ahead on 4 seats while others are also leading on 3 seats.
9:29 am: Telangana Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao leading by 2,861 votes over his nearest rival Congress' Vanteru Pratap Reddy in Gajwel seat after first round of counting, reports PTI.
9:25 am: Chattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh trailing from Rajnandgaon, Congress' Karuna Shukla is leading, reports ANI.
9:20 am: MNF nominee R Lalzirliana leading by 200 votes against Congress' Rosiamngheta in Tawi constituency, reports PTI.
9:12 am: Commenting on the early trends emerging from the vote counting, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya exuded confidence and said that the BJP will form the government in MP and Chhattisgarh.
9: 10 am: Abid Rasool Khan, TRS leader said brushing aside any apprehensions said "we are going to have a clear victory,"reported news agency ANI.
9:06 am: "I am confident that in MP, Congress will form government. We have favourable situation in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh also," said Congress leader Digvijay Singh, according to news agency ANI
9:05 am: Congress leader Sachin Pilot is leading from Tonk in Rajasthan, reports news agency ANI.
9:02 am: Congress leading on 48 seats in Rajasthan, BJP in 42. Others leading in 2 seats.
9 am: Mizo National Front (MNF) leading in 4 seats, while Congress is ahead in 1. Others leading in 1 seat.
8:55 am: BJP is leading in 20 seats in Chhattisgarh, Congress in 24. Others lead in 4.
8:50 am: In Telangana, TRS is leading in 18 seats, Congress ahead at 11. BJP is also leading in 2 seats in the states while others are leading on 1.
8:45 am: BJP leading in 27, Congress on 23 in Madhya Pradesh.
8:40 am: Meanwhile, Congress workers perform hawan outside Rahul Gandhi's residence in Delhi
8:35 am: Congress leading in nineteen seats in Rajasthan, BJP in twelve.
8:33 am: Congress leading in one seat in Mizoram, others on one.
8:32 am: In Chhattisgarh, both BJP and Congress are leading in ten seats, while others are leading in one seat
8:30 am: Congress and TRS both leading on two seats each in Telangana.
8:26 am: In Madhya Pradesh, BJP is leading in five seats while Congress is leading on three.
8: 21 am: First leads in, Congress leading in six seats in Rajasthan, BJP on four.
8: 15 am: Postal ballots are being counted first and will be followed by EVM machines.
8 am: Counting of votes begins.
7:46 am: In Bhopal, dedicated teams have been deployed outside counting centres to ensure complete security and safety. A three-tier security system is in place and no communication device is allowed inside the counting centres.
7:42 am: Visuals from outside a counting centre in Aizawl, Mizoram where Congress is seeking to retain its last bastion in the Northeast.
7:33 am: Counting of votes to begin at 8 am.
7:15 am: Assembly Election Results 2018: Fate Of Five States To Be Sealed Today
The results of assembly polls in five states will be declared on Tuesday in what is seen as a major test of popularity of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The trends will start pouring in from 8 a.m and a clear picture is expected to emerge in all the states by 11 a.m.
7:10am: Ahead of the counting of votes in Rajasthan, incumbent chief minister Vasundhara Raje left her residence to visit the Tripura Sundari temple in Udaipur.
7 am: What the exit polls said
The Congress will likely unseat the BJP from power in Rajasthan while remaining locked in a close fight with the saffron party in Madhya Pradesh, a poll of five major exit polls showed.
The Chhattisgarh election, on the other hand, may lead to a hung assembly with an advantage to the BJP, the poll of polls showed. In Telangana, the TRS was predicted to retain power while two exit polls showed the Mizo National Front, a BJP coalition partner, unseating the Congress from power in Mizoram.
The exit polls came after voting ended in Rajasthan and Telangana, the last of the five states that went to the polls in this batch of elections.
The five-state assembly elections are being seen as a semi-final to next year's Lok Sabha election.
