Madhya Pradesh polls: In tight race against Congress, BJP banks on women-oriented schemes, Hindutva

After polling on November 17, both the heavyweights – the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party – are seeking to form the government in Madhya Pradesh with the exit polls predicting mixed outcomes.

The election results for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will be announced on Sunday.

Currently, the BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh after wresting control from the Congress that had formed the government in December 2018 by winning 114 seats. The Kamal Nath-led Congress government crumbled in March 2019 after a rebellion by Jyotiraditya Scindia who joined the BJP, along with 22 other MLAs.

This year, 2,533 candidates, including Nath and incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, contested the closely fought Assembly elections.

The exit polls have predicted mixed outcomes in the state. While the India Today-Axis My India polls put the BJP well ahead of the Congress with 140 to 162 seats, TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polistrat predicted the Nath-led outfit to emerge the winner with 111 to 121 seats.

News24-Today’s Chanakya predicted that the BJP would secure a clear majority with 151 seats, as did the Republic-Matrize survey, estimating the party to win 118 to 130 seats. However, Dainik Bhaskar predicted the Congress to win 105 to 120 seats.

Here are some aspects of the state that will play a...

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