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All the eyes will be on BJP’s current chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as he attempts yet another stint in office. He replaced Babulal Gaur as chief minister on 29 November 2005. Since then has been at the helm from 2005 – 2008. Then again from 2008- 2013 . He will be attempting to win his fourth term this time around.
There is bound to be anti- incumbency as BJP goes to the polls. So Can Chouhan survive this challenge? The vyapam scam had tarnished the image and latest setting up of a cow ministry by Chouhan ahead of the polls has taken pundits by surprise. Congress state party chief too had jumped into the cow politics by promising cow shelters in every panchayat if voted to power. Madhya Pradesh is the second state after Rajasthan to have a ministry for cow welfare.
Chouhan seems to have the edge at the moment. The BSP supremo Mayawati’s move to not have any alliance with the Congress has given him the advantage. Congress on the other hand is battling the internal power struggle.
Interestingly, Mayawati while pulling out the alliance with the Congress blamed Digvijaya Singh and even went on to term him as BJP agent. State party chief Kamal Nath however said BSP’s terms were unrealistic for the alliance to happen.
While Chouhan happens to be favourite for the CM post again should the party return to power, Congress has a issue to resolve. Will it be the seasoned state party president Kamal Nath or the campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia?
There is clarion call for Jyotiraditya Scindia to be the next Congress Chief Minister Should the party come to power. But then Congress always keeps cards close to it’s chest and the party high command has the final say as to who will become CM. Till then the guessing game continues.
With Mayawati blaming Digvijaya Singh for alliance collapse with BSP has once again brought to fore the divided house within the party . Will this hit them at the polls? Only the results will tell.
What happened in 2013 – Assembly Polls
BJP emerged as the winner with 165 seats followed by Congress and BSP with 58 and 4 seats respectively. 3 Independent MLAs also won the polls. Madhya Pradesh assembly has 230 seats in total.
