Congress stakes claim in MP after a gap of 15 years
Kamal Nath requests appointment with governor once results are declared; BJP calls it ‘ridiculous’
State Congress chief Kamal Nath lost no time on Tuesday to stake claim to form the government of Madhya Pradesh. In a letter to governor Anandiben Patel, he wrote that the Congress party has “emerged the single largest party with majority support” and that “all the independent (candidates) have in addition assured support to the Congress party.”
The veteran leader sought an appointment with Patel after the results are announced to “apprise you and form the next government in Madhya Pradesh”, thus making way for the party’s dramatic political comeback after a hiatus of 15 years.
At the time of going to print, the Congress won or was leading in 114 of the 230 member state assembly while the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state since 2003, was close behind at 109. Of the four independents, three won (all Congress rebels), and one was leading. The Bahujan Samaj Party was leading in two and the Samajwadi Party in one seat.
In 2013, the BJP had won 165 seats, while the Congress had won a mere 58 seats. This time around, the BJP lost 56 seats, while the Congress gained 56 seats. While 13 ministers in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet won, an equal number lost.
“There parties have fought neck to neck fight for 14 hours. In case of a hung assembly, any of the two main political parties which is ahead of its rival even by one seat will be in an advantageous position. Of course, smaller parties and Independent candidates have a crucial role to play in formation of the government in that situation,” said political analyst Girija Shankar.
Nath called a meeting of newly elected legislators of the party at 4 pm on Wednesday. The meeting will include state Congress campaign committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia, state Congress coordination committee chairman Digvijaya Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, and former union minister Suresh Pachauri. Former defence minister A K Antony will attend as central observer.
State BJP general secretary VD Sharma said, “(Kamal Nath’s) letter to the governor to stake his claim to formation of government even before the results have been declared is ridiculous. As far as the PM’s tweet is concerned it is his magnanimity that he has congratulated people of Madhya Pradesh. BJP is going to gain majority once the results are declared.”
In a tweet on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Congress, Telangana’s K Chandrashekar Rao and the Mizo National Front for their victories and said, “We accept the people’s mandate with humility”.
The BJP suffered big losses in the Malwa-Nimar region, one of its traditional stronghold, but mostly retained control over the central region of the state. The Congress won big in GwaliorChambal and Mahakoshal regions, but suffered losses in Vindhya.
SP national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav said that the party would support the Congress, while BSP supremo Mayawati told media that the BSP would not support the BJP, effectively signalling an alliance between the three parties in the state.
In terms of vote share, there was hardly any difference between the two parties, both of whom received around 41% of the votes.
Scindia said, “We will create an environment of peace, justice, and development if we come in power in Madhya Pradesh.”
Tuesday’s poll results were determined by a number of factors: anti incumbency against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan; big ticket scandals, such as the Vyapam scam in which bribes were paid to rig entrance examinations for government jobs; and the agrarian crisis which saw increased farmers’ protests in the state.
The Congress garnered big wins in Malwa-Nimar, Mahakoshal, Gwalior-Chambal regions, but suffered losses in Vindhya.
The biggest shock for the BJP was in the Malwa-Nimar region, considered a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh bastion.
In the Gwalior-Chambal region, anti-BJP sentiment ran deep among Dalits in the wake of deaths during the Bharat Bandh in April. The nation-wide bandh was called to protest the dilution of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court. At the same time, the upper caste communities protested against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who came out in support to bring back the original provisions of the SC/ST act.
However, the BJP managed to retain seats in north Malwa. Jagdish Dewda won Malhargarh, and Yashpal Sisodiya, Mandsaur.The BJP also won Neemuch and Ratlam. These areas were some of the worst-affected during the farmers’ agitation that rocked Malwa last year, where six farmers were killed in police firing and lathi charge.
Chouhan announced Rs 1-crore compensation to each of the aggrieved families and that purchase of farm produce below minimum support price (MSP; the price at which the government acquires farm produce, effectively setting a base price) would be considered a crime. He also announced the Bhavantar Scheme. However, he did not announce a farm loan waiver, a key demand of agitating farmers.
In contrast, the Congress promised it would waive farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh within 10 days of coming into power, in its poll promises.
The Congress received a shot in the arm when it retained its assembly seats during the bypolls conducted last year and in March, earlier this year.