Hindi heartland votes 3/3 for BJP: Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh reject Congress
The Congress party faced significant setbacks in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, with indications suggesting potential losses to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Despite expectations of anti-incumbency working in its favour in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress failed to make a substantial impact.
FollowIn a significant blow to the Congress, the party faced a crushing defeat in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, with the BJP securing a dominant victory. Despite the Congress consolidating its position in the south with a win in Telangana, the outcomes in the crucial northern states raise vital questions for the grand old party.
The Congress's reliance on established regional leadership, as seen with leaders like Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot, and Bhupesh Baghel, failed to sway voters in the face of the BJP's strategy, emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. The inability to compete directly with the BJP has not only alarmed the Congress but also the opposition bloc INDIA.
The three states collectively hold 65 Lok Sabha seats, making them crucial battlegrounds for the Congress and the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 61 seats despite losing the assembly elections in 2018. With the recent state election results solidifying support for the BJP, the Congress faces an uphill battle in the upcoming national elections.
A notable concern for the Congress is its failure to convince voters in the Hindi heartland, where its guarantees fell flat in comparison to Modi's assurances. While the Congress's promises found traction in the south, they failed to resonate with voters in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
The anticipated impact of the caste census as a trump card for the opposition, including the Congress, proved ineffective in capturing the imagination of voters in these states, which boast a substantial OBC population.
The sole silver lining for the Congress comes from its victory in Telangana, allowing the party to strengthen its foothold in the south ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, the Congress won three out of 17 seats in the state, while KCR's party secured nine, and the BJP claimed four. The Congress aims to leverage its success in the assembly elections to bolster its Lok Sabha presence in Telangana.
Vote Share (As of 7 pm)
Chhattisgarh: In a state ruled by the Congress party, the BJP garnered a vote share of 46.29 per cent while the Congress managed to retain 42.17 per cent.
Madhya Pradesh: In a state where anti-incumbency was expected to play in Congress' favour, the Grand Old Party has managed just 40.45 per cent of the votes. BJP, on the other hand, received 48.6 per cent of the votes.
Rajasthan: Even though Ashok Gehlot and Congress may have seen a slight (39.53 per cent) in vote share when compared to 39.3 per cent in 2018, the BJP, on the other hand, has garnered 41.49 per cent in the 2023 election when compared to 38.77 per cent in 2018.
