Assembly Election Results 2023 Highlights: BJP Win in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh

Highlights of Four State’s Assembly Election Results 2023

Context:

The 2023 assembly election resulted in a 3-1 verdict between the BJP and Congress, providing a significant advantage for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the impending general elections. The elections took place in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram.

In the latest round of assembly elections, the BJP secured

• 163 seats in Madhya Pradesh
• 115 seats in Rajasthan and
• 54 seats in Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, the Congress won

• 66 seats in Madhya Pradesh,
• 69 seats in Rajasthan and
• 35 seats in Chhattisgarh.

In Telangana, the Congress emerged victorious with 64 seats, while BRS secured 39 seats.

These election results are significant as they were seen as semi-finals ahead of the next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023

Under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the BJP achieved a resounding triumph in Madhya Pradesh, significantly increasing its seat tally from 109 in 2018 to an impressive 164 in 2023, accompanied by a noteworthy 6% vote share.

• The BJP adeptly managed challenges such as anti-incumbency sentiments and internal factionalism, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah playing a pivotal role in restructuring the party’s agenda.
• Schemes like Ladli Behna Yojana, aimed at empowering women, along with Chauhan’s comeback, played a significant role in the party’s success.

Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023

Rajasthan continued its three-decade-long tradition of rejecting the ruling government, as the Congress secured only 69 seats and a 39.5% vote share.

• In contrast, the BJP, with 115 seats and a 41.7% vote share, capitalized on what it labeled as “appeasement politics” under the Congress government.
• The BJP successfully exploited the differences between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, a factor that significantly contributed to its success in the state.

Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023

The BJP achieved a significant victory in Chhattisgarh, securing 54 seats. In contrast, the Congress experienced a setback, managing only 35 seats and a 42.2% vote share.

• Several factors contributed to the BJP’s triumph, including a strategic emphasis on welfare politics, soft-Hindutva, and regional trade. The nomination of new candidates in almost half of the constituencies emerged as a crucial element in their success.
• Despite the Congress’s earnest efforts, it grappled with challenges such as corruption allegations and a lackluster approach. Consequently, the party witnessed a substantial decline in its seat count compared to the 2018 elections.

Telangana Assembly Elections 2023

In Telangana, despite an initially discouraging start on counting day, the Congress achieved a significant triumph by securing 64 seats with a notable 39.4% vote share, reflecting a considerable improvement from the results in 2018.

• The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao fell short of securing a hat-trick of wins, managing 39 seats and a 37.4% vote share.
• Under the leadership of A Revanth Reddy, the Congress effectively tapped into the public’s desire for change. The party countered the BRS’s welfare schemes with enhanced proposals, particularly focusing on rural areas, which contributed to its success in the elections.

Constitutional Provisions on Assembly Elections

Article 172(1) of the Constitution states that each Assembly has a five-year term.

• Postponing Assembly elections could potentially result in depriving the people of that State of their right to elect a responsible government of their choosing.

The State Legislative Assembly is a legislative body in the states and union territories of India.

In the 28 states and 3 union territories with a unicameral state legislature, it is the sole legislative body and in 6 states it is the lower house of their bicameral state legislatures with the upper house being Legislative Council.

• The Union Government of India directly governs 5 Union Territories (UTs) without a legislative body.
• Those 5 UTs are – Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh and Lakshadweep,

Term of reference