In a jolt to the BJP, the Congress on Wednesday won crucial by-elections to two Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. The results are seen crucial in view of the upcoming Assembly elections later this year in the State. In Odisha, the ruling BJD won the Bijepur Assembly seat with its nominee Rita Sahu scoring a thumping 42,000 votes victory over her nearest rival, BJP candidate Ashok Panigrahi. The seat was held by the Congress.
Congress’ Brijendra Singh Yadav won the Mungaoli Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh by-election, defeating the closest candidate by 2,124 votes. Securing 70,808 votes, Yadav edged past BJP’s Bai Sahab Rao Deshraj Singh Yadav.
The BJP managed 68,684 votes. The election was necessitated by the death of the Congress MlA.
The Congress’ retained the Kolaras seats with its candidate Mahendra Ramsingh Khatora defeating the BJP’s Devendra Kumar Jain Pattewale by a margin of over 8,000 votes.
The results are seen as a setback to the BJP which is battling a three-term anti-incumbency in MP and is going all out to form its maiden Government in Odisha. MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself led the an aggressive campaign and went door-to-door seeking votes for the party candidate..
The bypolls was seen as a prestige battle between Chouhan and Congress star campaigner Jyotiraditya Scindia . The formal royal had claimed during the campaign that the contest was not between two parties but “between Chouhan and him”.
The CM addressed more than 40 rallies and did over 10 roadshows. As many as 18 Cabinet Ministers accompanied him during the campaign. The BJP also roped in Scindia’s aunt and Minister Yashodhara Raje to campaign for the party.