Bhopal, August 7: After Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh is considered the second state where the Bharatiya Janata Party has consolidated its grip. After winning the state first in 2003, the BJP has been strengthening its hold. As it faces one of the stiffest challenges in the last 15 years, it is worth recalling how the party, along with its arch nemesis, Congress, fared in the 2013 MP assembly elections. Check Full Schedule and Dates of Upcoming Assembly Polls.

Ahead of the last legislative polls, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was facing a clear pro-incumbency wave despite being in power for 10 years. His pro-development persona, along with the Narendra Modi wave which had then gripped the nation, ensured that the BJP clocked its best ever performance in MP, whereas, the Congress was reduced to its worst-ever electoral standing in the state. Opinion Poll Predicts Victory For Congress in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018.

Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections Results 2013 — Party-wise Vote Share Distribution and Electoral Standings in Last Polls

  • Ahead of the elections, the BJP had reposed faith in CM Chouhan, projecting him as the party's face in the state. The Congress, on the other hand, had refrained from announcing a CM face. The party was also weakened with in-fighting and factionalism.
  • The BJP ended up winning 165 constituencies -- up 22 seats from its last tally. The party secured a vote share of 44.8 per cent.
  • Congress, meanwhile, grabbed an electoral share of 36.38 per cent and ended up bagging 58 seats -- down by 13 constituencies as compared to 2008.

Vote Share Seats
BJP 44.80% 165
Congress 36.38% 58
Others 18.9% 7

Among the 7 seats won by Others, 4 MLAs belonged to the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The pro-BJP wave in Madhya Pradesh continued during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, as the party won 26 of the 29 parliamentary seats, whereas, the Congress was reduced to 3.

Opinion polls have this time, however, predicted a turnaround with the Congress holding an edge against the BJP. As per the latest survey released by ABP News, the latter would be trounced by the grand old party with a grim majority.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 07, 2018 08:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).