Assembly Polls: Congress emerges winner in Chhattisgarh, MP, Raj; Modi accepts defeat

The results are a huge defeat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which was ruling party in these three states.

The results are especially significant for Congress President Rahul Gandhi, under whose leadership, the party finally defeated the BJP in the three crucial states.

The Congress thumped a massive victory in Chhattisgarh by winning 35 votes and leading in 33 others. BJP here only managed to win in 7 seats while keeping a lead in 9 others.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress won 69 seats and retains a lead in 44 others. Even as the votes share of the BJP is similar to Congress, the ruling party managed 66 seats while taking a lead in 44 others.

In the state of Rajasthan, where there was a strong incumbency against the Vasundhara Raje government, the Congress emerged victorious in 99 seats.

The BJP could retain only 73 out of the 199-contested assembly seats.

The Telangana votes have been swept by the K Chandrasekhar Rao’s Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The party has bagged a whopping majority of 88 seats in the 119-member Telangana Assembly.

In Mizoram, the Mizo National Front emerged winner with 26 seats.

Accepting defeat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he respects the mandate of the people.

In a tweet, Modi said: "We accept the people’s mandate with humility. I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people."

This is the first reaction of the Prime Minister on the election results. He had not uttered a word on the elections in the morning while speaking to the media before the start of Parliament's winter session.

Congratulating the winners, Modi said: "Congratulations to the Congress for their victories. Congratulations to KCR Garu for the thumping win in Telangana and to the Mizo National Front (MNF) for their impressive victory in Mizoram."

Stating victory and defeat were part of life, Modi said: "Today’s results will further our resolve to serve people and work even harder for the development of India."

He also thanked the BJP "Karyakartas" (workers) who "worked day and night for the state elections. I salute them for their hardwork."

Speaking to the media, earlier in the evening, Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulated the BJP governments for their work in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh over the years.

"I also want to congratulate the parties that won in Mizoram and Telangana," said Rahul, adding that he hoped the Congress wins in Madhya Pradesh as well.

"The farmers and the youth have sent their message to the Prime Minister," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah, however, only had congratulatory words for the TRS.

"Congratulations to Shri K. Chandrashekar Rao ji and @trspartyonline for the impressive victory in Telangana assembly elections," he tweeted.

One of the vocal anti-BJP faces of the united Opposition, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told mediapersons that the results are the "beginning of the end."

She said this is the victory of democracy.

"I had said in the past too that during the time of demonetisation itself, people did not take the move positively. Farmers have been committing suicide, there have been a political emergency in the whole country and BJP created an atmosphere of fear. The loss of the BJP is that of arrogance. They have been misusing various agencies," said Mamata.

She even accused the BJP of threatening media.

"People of all age groups have gone against the BJP. I would appeal to all federal fronts to work together. This was the semi finale..there's time until the final," she said.

Meanwhile, outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said he was taking full responsibility for the Bharatiya Janata Party's defeat in the state Assembly polls.

"I am taking full responsibility for the defeat of the arty in the state," he told media.

Singh said he has presented his resignation to the state governor.

"I am thankful to the people of the state for giving me the chance of serving them over the years," he said.

Reacting to the poll results, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday congratulated  K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Naidu also congratulated winners of the other polls and posted: "Congratulations to the winners of Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram."

The results of the polls in five states are not obviously good news for the ruling BJP in India with the opposition parties, already holding confabulations to oust the Modi government in the 2019 elections, now emboldened by the defeat of the saffron brigade in this round to launch a more forceful campaign against the ruling regime in New Delhi.