With the announcement of results for Assembly elections 2018, the curtain has come down on 15-years of BJP rule in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

In Chhattisgarh, the Congress has trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and emerged victorious by winning 67 of the 89 seats for which results had been declared till Wednesday morning. It was also leading in one more constituency for which the result was awaited. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has been reduced to just 15 seats in the state Assembly having a total strength of 90. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has bagged 2 seats while its electoral ally, the newly floated Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, headed by former chief minister Ajit Jogi, has won 5 seats.

Anti-incumbency is being viewed as the main factor for BJP’s defeat in Chhattisgarh. Inner party rivalry, poor ticket distribution and the rebel backlash are also being cited as reasons for defeat by BJP insiders.

In Madhya Pradesh, it has been a neck-and-neck fight been the BJP and Congress. The counting of votes began in this central Indian state, along with the other states that also went to polls, at 8 am on Tuesday. It was a cliffhanger for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress as the trends kept swinging throughout the day while counting progressed. On Wednesday morning, when the final results came in, the Congress had stolen the show with 114 seats. The BJP has won 109, Bahujan Samaj Party trails far behind with 2 seats and the Samajwadi Party with 1. Four Independent Candidates also have been declared elected in the state.

The close fight between the BJP and Congress notwithstanding, what demonstrates people’s massive disenchantment and anger against the highhandedness and arrogance of state BJP ministers is the defeat of more than a dozen of them. They include Madhya Pradesh finance minister Jayant Malaiya, Archana Chitnis, Deepak Joshi, Umashankar Gupta, Rustam Singh, Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya, Antar Singh Arya, Narayan Singh Kushwah, Om Prakash Dhurve, Lal Singh Arya, Lalita Yadav, and Balkrishna Patidar

Even as counting of votes was in progress for a number of constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, state Congress president Kamal Nath despatched a &nbsp;letter to the state Governor on Tuesday evening to seek an appointment to stake the claim for government formation. This initiative was taken obviously to pre-empt a move in the same direction by the BJP as no party was gaining an absolute majority.

Besides, it’s committed voters and huge cadre base, supported and backed by the RSS, the BJP was banking heavily on chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s popularity and also the prolonged work done by the RSS-backed Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the Vivekanand Kendra to bring the tribals closer to the BJP. In Madhya Pradesh, there is a quasi-government body, the Jan Abhiyan Parishad, headed by the chief minister. This body loaded with top state government functionaries regulates and gives accreditation to registered NGOs to promote and implement government policies and programmes. This body was used to the hilt in the rural areas by the BJP, as in past elections, to garner votes.

The BJP was also sure of extensive voter support due to its student-centric schemes. About 15 million school students in Madhya Pradesh are receiving scholarships online. After Shivraj Singh Chouhan became chief minister for the third time in a row in 2013, the state government also began providing free smartphones bicycles, and boarding facilities to students.

These schemes failed to deliver the electoral advantage on expected lines to the BJP and Chouhan met his Waterloo with his&nbsp;much-condemned statement “no mother’s son can bring to an end the reservation system” besides the amendment to the SC/ST Atrocities Act. The BJP stand on these counts eroded much of its traditional support base.

The BJP also has suffered a huge backlash from the agrarian sector in the state. Mainstream media has reported how the insurance companies have benefited more than farmers from Narendra Modi government's crop insurance scheme. Police firing and suicide by farmers, loan burden, crop failure and poor handling of procurement and mismanagement of Bhavantar Yojna (scheme to pay the difference in minimum support price and the selling price) went against the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. 
 
Anti-incumbency, unemployment, long-term impact of demonetisation, drawbacks in GST and poor governance are also factors that have cost the BJP dear. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

With the announcement of results for Assembly elections 2018, the curtain has come down on 15-years of BJP rule in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, the Congress has trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and emerged victorious by winning 67 of the 89 seats for which results had been declared till Wednesday morning.

With the announcement of results for Assembly elections 2018, the curtain has come down on 15-years of BJP rule in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, the Congress has trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and emerged victorious by winning 67 of the 89 seats for which results had been declared till Wednesday morning. It was also leading in one more constituency for which the result was awaited. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has been reduced to just 15 seats in the state Assembly having a total strength of 90. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has bagged 2 seats while its electoral ally, the newly floated Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, headed by former chief minister Ajit Jogi, has won 5 seats. Anti-incumbency is being viewed as the main factor for BJP’s defeat in Chhattisgarh. Inner party rivalry, poor ticket distribution and the rebel backlash are also being cited as reasons for defeat by BJP insiders. In Madhya Pradesh, it has been a neck-and-neck fight been the BJP and Congress. The counting of votes began in this central Indian state, along with the other states that also went to polls, at 8 am on Tuesday. It was a cliffhanger for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress as the trends kept swinging throughout the day while counting progressed. On Wednesday morning, when the final results came in, the Congress had stolen the show with 114 seats. The BJP has won 109, Bahujan Samaj Party trails far behind with 2 seats and the Samajwadi Party with 1. Four Independent Candidates also have been declared elected in the state. The close fight between the BJP and Congress notwithstanding, what demonstrates people’s massive disenchantment and anger against the highhandedness and arrogance of state BJP ministers is the defeat of more than a dozen of them. They include Madhya Pradesh finance minister Jayant Malaiya, Archana Chitnis, Deepak Joshi, Umashankar Gupta, Rustam Singh, Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya, Antar Singh Arya, Narayan Singh Kushwah, Om Prakash Dhurve, Lal Singh Arya, Lalita Yadav, and Balkrishna Patidar Even as counting of votes was in progress for a number of constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, state Congress president Kamal Nath despatched a letter to the state Governor on Tuesday evening to seek an appointment to stake the claim for government formation. This initiative was taken obviously to pre-empt a move in the same direction by the BJP as no party was gaining an absolute majority. Besides, it’s committed voters and huge cadre base, supported and backed by the RSS, the BJP was banking heavily on chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s popularity and also the prolonged work done by the RSS-backed Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the Vivekanand Kendra to bring the tribals closer to the BJP. In Madhya Pradesh, there is a quasi-government body, the Jan Abhiyan Parishad, headed by the chief minister. This body loaded with top state government functionaries regulates and gives accreditation to registered NGOs to promote and implement government policies and programmes. This body was used to the hilt in the rural areas by the BJP, as in past elections, to garner votes. The BJP was also sure of extensive voter support due to its student-centric schemes. About 15 million school students in Madhya Pradesh are receiving scholarships online. After Shivraj Singh Chouhan became chief minister for the third time in a row in 2013, the state government also began providing free smartphones bicycles, and boarding facilities to students. These schemes failed to deliver the electoral advantage on expected lines to the BJP and Chouhan met his Waterloo with his much-condemned statement “no mother’s son can bring to an end the reservation system” besides the amendment to the SC/ST Atrocities Act. The BJP stand on these counts eroded much of its traditional support base. The BJP also has suffered a huge backlash from the agrarian sector in the state. Mainstream media has reported how the insurance companies have benefited more than farmers from Narendra Modi government's crop insurance scheme. Police firing and suicide by farmers, loan burden, crop failure and poor handling of procurement and mismanagement of Bhavantar Yojna (scheme to pay the difference in minimum support price and the selling price) went against the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. Anti-incumbency, unemployment, long-term impact of demonetisation, drawbacks in GST and poor governance are also factors that have cost the BJP dear. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Curtain comes down on BJP rule in Hindi heartland states

The Prime Minister’s exhortation to political parties at the start of the winter session of Parliament to debate issues, bore an extraordinarily friendly tinge. “Let’s debate sharply if you want. Let’s rise above party politics to discuss public issues and have a ‘samwad’, ( dialogue ) he said.

It is hard to read whether that mellowed and fervent appeal from PM Modi reflected his mental turmoil at a time when counting for five state elections were in progress and the BJP seemed to be trailing in all the five states.&nbsp;

As the trends started pouring in for the five states, it became clear the K Chandrashekhar Rao government was retaining its hold over Telangana and the people wanted Raman Singh and Lal Thanhawla out in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram respectively.

But it were the electoral trends in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan that kept party workers, supporters and political pundits, guessing through the day. The two states saw a tortuous seesaw battle between the two major contenders – the BJP which was defending its turf in both the states, and the Congress, the principal challenger.&nbsp;

A few takeaways. Chhattisgarh proved to be a veritable case of voter fatigue. The Congress’s early start to campaigning in the state coupled with populist promises of farm loan waiver proved decisive. The anti-incumbency only rubbed the proverbial salt into Raman Singh’s wounds bringing his juggernaut to a halt.&nbsp;

Chhattisgarh may well be in the Congress kitty, but there are no less than four contenders for the post of chief minister, including party state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel, the party’s lone MP from Durg, Tamradhwaj Sahu and former leader in last state assembly T S Singh Deo. Former minister Charan Das Mahant is also in the race.

In MP, Congress leaders went into a huddle deliberating each and every result as they poured in. They don’t want the BJP to do a Goa in MP. In such a close contest, the Congress shall prefer a veteran like Kamal Nath over Jyotiraditya to lead the party in the Assembly, in the event of it maintaining the lead and being invited to form the government.

In neighbouring MP, Shivraj Singh proved to be a tough customer, refusing to cede ground to the Congress. As the trend emerged it seemed ‘Mamaji’ could sail through. But by late afternoon, the trends had tipped towards the Congress. It consistently hovered around the mid-way mark of 115, at times even slipping as the BJP caught up to close the gap, keeping the game wide open for either party.

It appears the Congress strategy of not projecting a CM face did not go down well with the voters in a state that had grown familiar with the style and functioning of Chouhan over the last decade-and-a-half. His ‘personal touch’ with constituents is now legendary. This only shrunk Congress’s lead.

Even in Rajasthan, the party fell short of its own expectations. The state alternates between the Congress and the BJP. The BJP had returned to power in 2013 with more than three-fourth majority. By evening, the Congress barely crossed the halfway mark on Tuesday, as the trend showed BJP losing half of its seats.&nbsp;

As in other states, the Congress had not projected any CM face and had relied on the ingeniousness of a veteran like Ashok Gehlot and a young colt like Sachin Pilot, heading the party in the state. &nbsp;But the ticket distribution triggered rebellion in the party. The trends showed 25 ‘Others’ leading in their respective constituencies. Later it turned out, many of these ‘Others’ were Congress rebels. Gehlot seems to have an edge over Pilot in the race for chief ministership.

The Congress went alone in both these states, failing to strike an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party. And this could have led to party’s less than bright showing in the state.

With Mizoram having slipped from the Congress kitty, the BJP has partly realised its dream of a Congress-mukt North-East, though the BJP barely managed to win a single seat.&nbsp;

The BJP was handed a drubbing in Telangana, where voters rejected brand Hindutva. The BJP did everything it could to polarise the elections by pitching Yogi Adityanath as star campaigner in the last leg. Yogi’s acerbic utterances in Hyderabad boomeranged on the party. Modi lost, but Rahul did not win. Congress’s Hindu card and its recent flirtation with religiosity did not yield results.&nbsp;

In fact, the monster of demonetisation followed by clumsy execution of GST only weighed heavily on the three BJP chief ministers, as they geared for campaigning at the start of the elections. Posters and banners bore images of chief ministers, rather than Prime Minister Modi. Agrarian distress coupled with shrinking job avenues did not help matters.

The state election results have proved that the BJP’s hypothesis of delivering a Congress-mukt Bharat had no firm basis. If at all, the BJP needs Congress for its survival and vice-versa.&nbsp;

The election results may give Rahul more heft in the Mahagathbandhan, if it firms up, but it has also underlined that if he fails to stitch up strategic alliances he shall be a loser nonetheless. 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-hand-that-rocked-the-boat-2695006">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The Prime Minister’s exhortation to political parties at the start of the winter session of Parliament to debate issues, bore an extraordinarily friendly tinge. “Let’s debate sharply if you want.

The Prime Minister’s exhortation to political parties at the start of the winter session of Parliament to debate issues, bore an extraordinarily friendly tinge. “Let’s debate sharply if you want. Let’s rise above party politics to discuss public issues and have a ‘samwad’, ( dialogue ) he said. It is hard to read whether that mellowed and fervent appeal from PM Modi reflected his mental turmoil at a time when counting for five state elections were in progress and the BJP seemed to be trailing in all the five states. As the trends started pouring in for the five states, it became clear the K Chandrashekhar Rao government was retaining its hold over Telangana and the people wanted Raman Singh and Lal Thanhawla out in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram respectively. But it were the electoral trends in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan that kept party workers, supporters and political pundits, guessing through the day. The two states saw a tortuous seesaw battle between the two major contenders – the BJP which was defending its turf in both the states, and the Congress, the principal challenger. A few takeaways. Chhattisgarh proved to be a veritable case of voter fatigue. The Congress’s early start to campaigning in the state coupled with populist promises of farm loan waiver proved decisive. The anti-incumbency only rubbed the proverbial salt into Raman Singh’s wounds bringing his juggernaut to a halt. Chhattisgarh may well be in the Congress kitty, but there are no less than four contenders for the post of chief minister, including party state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel, the party’s lone MP from Durg, Tamradhwaj Sahu and former leader in last state assembly T S Singh Deo. Former minister Charan Das Mahant is also in the race. In MP, Congress leaders went into a huddle deliberating each and every result as they poured in. They don’t want the BJP to do a Goa in MP. In such a close contest, the Congress shall prefer a veteran like Kamal Nath over Jyotiraditya to lead the party in the Assembly, in the event of it maintaining the lead and being invited to form the government. In neighbouring MP, Shivraj Singh proved to be a tough customer, refusing to cede ground to the Congress. As the trend emerged it seemed ‘Mamaji’ could sail through. But by late afternoon, the trends had tipped towards the Congress. It consistently hovered around the mid-way mark of 115, at times even slipping as the BJP caught up to close the gap, keeping the game wide open for either party. It appears the Congress strategy of not projecting a CM face did not go down well with the voters in a state that had grown familiar with the style and functioning of Chouhan over the last decade-and-a-half. His ‘personal touch’ with constituents is now legendary. This only shrunk Congress’s lead. Even in Rajasthan, the party fell short of its own expectations. The state alternates between the Congress and the BJP. The BJP had returned to power in 2013 with more than three-fourth majority. By evening, the Congress barely crossed the halfway mark on Tuesday, as the trend showed BJP losing half of its seats. As in other states, the Congress had not projected any CM face and had relied on the ingeniousness of a veteran like Ashok Gehlot and a young colt like Sachin Pilot, heading the party in the state. But the ticket distribution triggered rebellion in the party. The trends showed 25 ‘Others’ leading in their respective constituencies. Later it turned out, many of these ‘Others’ were Congress rebels. Gehlot seems to have an edge over Pilot in the race for chief ministership. The Congress went alone in both these states, failing to strike an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party. And this could have led to party’s less than bright showing in the state. With Mizoram having slipped from the Congress kitty, the BJP has partly realised its dream of a Congress-mukt North-East, though the BJP barely managed to win a single seat. The BJP was handed a drubbing in Telangana, where voters rejected brand Hindutva. The BJP did everything it could to polarise the elections by pitching Yogi Adityanath as star campaigner in the last leg. Yogi’s acerbic utterances in Hyderabad boomeranged on the party. Modi lost, but Rahul did not win. Congress’s Hindu card and its recent flirtation with religiosity did not yield results. In fact, the monster of demonetisation followed by clumsy execution of GST only weighed heavily on the three BJP chief ministers, as they geared for campaigning at the start of the elections. Posters and banners bore images of chief ministers, rather than Prime Minister Modi. Agrarian distress coupled with shrinking job avenues did not help matters. The state election results have proved that the BJP’s hypothesis of delivering a Congress-mukt Bharat had no firm basis. If at all, the BJP needs Congress for its survival and vice-versa. The election results may give Rahul more heft in the Mahagathbandhan, if it firms up, but it has also underlined that if he fails to stitch up strategic alliances he shall be a loser nonetheless. (This article was originally published on DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

PM Narendra Modi lost, but Rahul Gandhi did not win

After discussions that lasted hours, the Congress Wednesday failed to bring about a consensus in its ranks in Rajasthan on who should be the chief minister even as it staked its claim to form the government.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-eyes-now-on-whom-rahul-gandhi-will-choose-as-his-chief-ministers-183485">decision on the chief minister will be taken Thursday by party president Rahul Gandhi</a>, All India Congress Committee general secretary Avinash Pande told reporters after a party delegation met Governor Kalyan Singh to seek an invitation to form the government.

Pande said Gandhi will be briefed about the deliberations by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Jaipur over the chief minister's post

Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, both MLAs, are the frontrunners for the post and were part of the delegation that met Kalyan Singh.

Earlier in the day, the CLP held a scheduled meeting at the party office, where it passed a one-line resolution in which the newly elected MLAs authorised Gandhi to decide on the chief minister's post.

After the resolution was passed, K C Venugopal, the AICC observer sent by the party to Jaipur, held discussions with individual MLAs, seeking their opinion.

The exercise went on for several hours but there was no consensus and the CLP then left the decision on Gandhi. 
"We will hand over our report to the party president tomorrow," Pande said.

Apart from AICC general secretaries Venugopal and Pande, the party had also sent four AICC secretaries to Jaipur. 
They are all expected to meet Gandhi in Delhi. Both Pilot and Gehlot would remain in Jaipur, party leaders said.

"A delegation of the party met the Governor. We have the majority and will form the government," Pande said. 
Leader of opposition Rameshwar Dudi, who lost election on Nokha seat, was also part of the delegation.

"The party observer held discussions with the MLAs and the name of the chief minister will be decided at the level of the party president Rahul Gandhi by tomorrow evening," Dudi told reporters outside Raj Bhawan.

Congress won 99 out of the 199 seats that went to the polls on December 7. Its alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) also bagged a seat, taking the combined tally to 100 needed to form the government.

The party is also looking for support from independent candidates and non-BJP parties.

Pande said several other MLAs have also extended support to the Congress in writing and the final list will be handed over to the Governor later.

The Bharatiya Janata Party won 73 seats.&nbsp;

Resolution unanimous that Rahul will decide

Meanwhile, newly-elected Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh Wednesday asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to nominate the new legislature party leader.

At a meeting here in the evening, they unanimously passed a resolution authorising Gandhi to name the CLP leader.

"The resolution was moved by senior MLA Arif Aqueel and seconded by other MLAs. They passed it unanimously, authorising the Congress president to nominate the legislature party leader," state Congress media cell chairperson, Shobha Oza told reporters.

The meeting lasted for about two hours, she said.

Senior Congress leaders A K Antony and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh attended the meeting as the central observers.

Oza said Gandhi will be conveyed the decision of the newly-elected MLAs, after which he will name the CLP leader.

The observers are also talking to the MLAs to seek their views, she said.

All the four independent MLAs, elected in the November 28 poll, were also present in the meeting, she said.

The Congress Wednesday emerged as the single largest party in the state by winning 114 seats, two short of a simple majority of 116 in 230-member house and claimed that it has the support of 121 members.

BSP supremo Mayawati Wednesday morning extended support of her party to the Congress.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhhan Wednesday tendered his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel, who met a Congress delegation here at noon after the party leaders wrote to her last night, seeking a chance to form the new government in the central Indian state.&nbsp;

After discussions that lasted hours, the Congress Wednesday failed to bring about a consensus in its ranks in Rajasthan on who should be the chief minister even as it staked its claim to form the government.

After discussions that lasted hours, the Congress Wednesday failed to bring about a consensus in its ranks in Rajasthan on who should be the chief minister even as it staked its claim to form the government. The decision on the chief minister will be taken Thursday by party president Rahul Gandhi, All India Congress Committee general secretary Avinash Pande told reporters after a party delegation met Governor Kalyan Singh to seek an invitation to form the government. Pande said Gandhi will be briefed about the deliberations by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Jaipur over the chief minister's post Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, both MLAs, are the frontrunners for the post and were part of the delegation that met Kalyan Singh. Earlier in the day, the CLP held a scheduled meeting at the party office, where it passed a one-line resolution in which the newly elected MLAs authorised Gandhi to decide on the chief minister's post. After the resolution was passed, K C Venugopal, the AICC observer sent by the party to Jaipur, held discussions with individual MLAs, seeking their opinion. The exercise went on for several hours but there was no consensus and the CLP then left the decision on Gandhi. "We will hand over our report to the party president tomorrow," Pande said. Apart from AICC general secretaries Venugopal and Pande, the party had also sent four AICC secretaries to Jaipur. They are all expected to meet Gandhi in Delhi. Both Pilot and Gehlot would remain in Jaipur, party leaders said. "A delegation of the party met the Governor. We have the majority and will form the government," Pande said. Leader of opposition Rameshwar Dudi, who lost election on Nokha seat, was also part of the delegation. "The party observer held discussions with the MLAs and the name of the chief minister will be decided at the level of the party president Rahul Gandhi by tomorrow evening," Dudi told reporters outside Raj Bhawan. Congress won 99 out of the 199 seats that went to the polls on December 7. Its alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) also bagged a seat, taking the combined tally to 100 needed to form the government. The party is also looking for support from independent candidates and non-BJP parties. Pande said several other MLAs have also extended support to the Congress in writing and the final list will be handed over to the Governor later. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 73 seats. Resolution unanimous that Rahul will decide Meanwhile, newly-elected Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh Wednesday asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to nominate the new legislature party leader. At a meeting here in the evening, they unanimously passed a resolution authorising Gandhi to name the CLP leader. "The resolution was moved by senior MLA Arif Aqueel and seconded by other MLAs. They passed it unanimously, authorising the Congress president to nominate the legislature party leader," state Congress media cell chairperson, Shobha Oza told reporters. The meeting lasted for about two hours, she said. Senior Congress leaders A K Antony and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh attended the meeting as the central observers. Oza said Gandhi will be conveyed the decision of the newly-elected MLAs, after which he will name the CLP leader. The observers are also talking to the MLAs to seek their views, she said. All the four independent MLAs, elected in the November 28 poll, were also present in the meeting, she said. The Congress Wednesday emerged as the single largest party in the state by winning 114 seats, two short of a simple majority of 116 in 230-member house and claimed that it has the support of 121 members. BSP supremo Mayawati Wednesday morning extended support of her party to the Congress. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhhan Wednesday tendered his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel, who met a Congress delegation here at noon after the party leaders wrote to her last night, seeking a chance to form the new government in the central Indian state.

New Congress CMs? Party MLAs say Rahul will decide

Congress Party has made a come-back. This time the credit for this victory goes to none other than Rahul Gandhi who took over as Congress President a year back.

After a series of defeats and upsets, Rahul Gandhi has earned the victory for himself. Such was the image problem that the&nbsp;win in Punjab was not attributed to the planning he did, instead, the credit went to Captain Amarinder Singh.&nbsp;

This time around it was his campaign style and selection of issues which worked for the party. There was also no Sonia Gandhi around with whom the credit could be shared with.

The results themselves are an eye-opener. It breaks the myth of BJP of turning around lost elections. It also breaks the myth of Congress as a failed party which cannot fight elections against the Modi-Shah regime. The result also breaks the myth of impregnable strength of RSS which had been projected as an organisation that had mastered the dark art of winning elections in India.

This election also saw senior and junior leadership of the Congress fighting elections. But the best surprise came from Chhattisgarh where Congress leadership was non-existent. The Congress sweep in Chhattisgarh shows that electoral turn around can also take place in absence of state leadership if the messaging on key issues remain clear and strong.

Though it does not mean that Congress on its own is set to sweep elections in 2019. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after sweeping the three north Indian states in 2003 went on to lose the national elections in 2004.

It is a lesson to BJP that not all elections can be polarised on emotive issues. It is a reminder to them that rural distress and anti-farmer messaging by Congress against BJP can have disastrous results and cannot be ignored.

But Congress should also ponder over two issues. It has not been able to recover ground in Telangana. The arithmetic did not create the right chemistry which could attract the voters. In fact, it shows that the opportunistic alliance does not work at local level and Telangana repeated Uttar Pradesh where SP-Congress alliance failed to counter BJP which it swept handsomely. More so, Congress has been wiped out of Northeast. Probably it is first time after 1952 that Northeast does not a single state under its belt. Northeast has truly become 'Congress Mukt'.&nbsp;

Congress should also learn a lesson from Amit Shah's campaign style which resurrected his party in Rajasthan where political pundits gave clean sweep to the Congress Party. Congress will form the government in the state but it will not be called a sweep.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The victory will allow Rahul Gandhi to assert himself far more powerfully with regional parties to negotiate alliances which would be state specific. The victory also thwarts the idea of 'Grand Alliance' in which Congress would have been the side player.&nbsp;

The victory has given Rahul Gandhi a window right before the Lok Sabha elections to position himself to negotiate a better bargain for the Congress. This time he will be taken more seriously.

BJP, on the other hand, will have to rethink whether they would fight the election on governance issue or an emotive issue like Ayodhya. The clock ticks for both Congress and BJP but as of now, Congress has survived the bout to stay in the ring as a credible challenger for 2019 elections which a year back was being thought a cakewalk for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Congress Party has made a come-back. This time the credit for this victory goes to none other than Rahul Gandhi who took over as Congress President a year back. After a series of defeats and upsets, Rahul Gandhi has earned the victory for himself.

Congress Party has made a come-back. This time the credit for this victory goes to none other than Rahul Gandhi who took over as Congress President a year back. After a series of defeats and upsets, Rahul Gandhi has earned the victory for himself. Such was the image problem that the win in Punjab was not attributed to the planning he did, instead, the credit went to Captain Amarinder Singh. This time around it was his campaign style and selection of issues which worked for the party. There was also no Sonia Gandhi around with whom the credit could be shared with. The results themselves are an eye-opener. It breaks the myth of BJP of turning around lost elections. It also breaks the myth of Congress as a failed party which cannot fight elections against the Modi-Shah regime. The result also breaks the myth of impregnable strength of RSS which had been projected as an organisation that had mastered the dark art of winning elections in India. This election also saw senior and junior leadership of the Congress fighting elections. But the best surprise came from Chhattisgarh where Congress leadership was non-existent. The Congress sweep in Chhattisgarh shows that electoral turn around can also take place in absence of state leadership if the messaging on key issues remain clear and strong. Though it does not mean that Congress on its own is set to sweep elections in 2019. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after sweeping the three north Indian states in 2003 went on to lose the national elections in 2004. It is a lesson to BJP that not all elections can be polarised on emotive issues. It is a reminder to them that rural distress and anti-farmer messaging by Congress against BJP can have disastrous results and cannot be ignored. But Congress should also ponder over two issues. It has not been able to recover ground in Telangana. The arithmetic did not create the right chemistry which could attract the voters. In fact, it shows that the opportunistic alliance does not work at local level and Telangana repeated Uttar Pradesh where SP-Congress alliance failed to counter BJP which it swept handsomely. More so, Congress has been wiped out of Northeast. Probably it is first time after 1952 that Northeast does not a single state under its belt. Northeast has truly become 'Congress Mukt'. Congress should also learn a lesson from Amit Shah's campaign style which resurrected his party in Rajasthan where political pundits gave clean sweep to the Congress Party. Congress will form the government in the state but it will not be called a sweep. The victory will allow Rahul Gandhi to assert himself far more powerfully with regional parties to negotiate alliances which would be state specific. The victory also thwarts the idea of 'Grand Alliance' in which Congress would have been the side player. The victory has given Rahul Gandhi a window right before the Lok Sabha elections to position himself to negotiate a better bargain for the Congress. This time he will be taken more seriously. BJP, on the other hand, will have to rethink whether they would fight the election on governance issue or an emotive issue like Ayodhya. The clock ticks for both Congress and BJP but as of now, Congress has survived the bout to stay in the ring as a credible challenger for 2019 elections which a year back was being thought a cakewalk for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Rahul Gandhi 2.0: Hand also rises

Outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday tendered his resignation to the governor and accepted the mandate of the people of the state. Singh also took the responsibility for the party's loss in the state as the BJP had contested elections under his leadership.&nbsp;

"We respect the mandate that the public has given. I congratulate Congress on this success. I consider it my luck to serve the public of Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years," Singh told reporters.&nbsp;

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Raman Singh, outgoing CM of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chhattisgarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chhattisgarh</a>: I take the responsibility for this defeat because the poll was contested under my leadership. We will act as a strong Opposition and work for the development of the state. <a href="https://t.co/THZtKnKMhI">https://t.co/THZtKnKMhI</a>
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"I take the responsibility for this defeat because the poll was contested under my leadership. We will act as a strong Opposition and work for the development of the state," the outgoing CM added.&nbsp;

The Chhattisgarh Governor Anandiben Patel has accepted the resignation of Raman Singh.

As per the latest Election Commission data, the Congress currently leads in 65 assembly seats while BJP trails with leads in 14 seats.&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/imposing-prohibition-on-liquor-repairing-roads-on-agenda-mnf-chief-after-assembly-poll-win-183258">Mizo National Front on Tuesday won the state assembly elections</a> by bagging 26 out of 40 assembly seats. According to the official Election Commission data, Congress managed to bag five seats while the BJP got just one. Independent candidates captured eight assembly seats.

Congress seems to lead in Chhattisgarh with a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-election-results-2018-live-stakes-high-ahead-of-2019-general-elections-183025">close fight with the BJP in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh</a>. KC Rao's TRS is predicted to have a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-are-going-to-play-crucial-role-in-national-politics-kcr-183255">clean sweep in Telangana</a>.&nbsp;

Outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday tendered his resignation to the governor and accepted the mandate of the people of the state. Singh also took the responsibility for the party's loss in the state as the BJP had contested elections under his leadership.

Outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday tendered his resignation to the governor and accepted the mandate of the people of the state. Singh also took the responsibility for the party's loss in the state as the BJP had contested elections under his leadership. "We respect the mandate that the public has given. I congratulate Congress on this success. I consider it my luck to serve the public of Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years," Singh told reporters. Raman Singh, outgoing CM of #Chhattisgarh: I take the responsibility for this defeat because the poll was contested under my leadership. We will act as a strong Opposition and work for the development of the state. https://t.co/THZtKnKMhI — ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018 × "I take the responsibility for this defeat because the poll was contested under my leadership. We will act as a strong Opposition and work for the development of the state," the outgoing CM added. The Chhattisgarh Governor Anandiben Patel has accepted the resignation of Raman Singh. As per the latest Election Commission data, the Congress currently leads in 65 assembly seats while BJP trails with leads in 14 seats. Meanwhile, the Mizo National Front on Tuesday won the state assembly elections by bagging 26 out of 40 assembly seats. According to the official Election Commission data, Congress managed to bag five seats while the BJP got just one. Independent candidates captured eight assembly seats. Congress seems to lead in Chhattisgarh with a close fight with the BJP in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. KC Rao's TRS is predicted to have a clean sweep in Telangana.

I take responsibility for this defeat, will forge strong opposition for state's development: Raman Singh 

The Congress was poised on Wednesday to form governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, signalling a newfound energy in the party ranks and energising opposition efforts to stop the BJP juggernaut before general elections next year.&nbsp;

Belying predictions of exit polls, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-is-time-for-change-rahul-gandhi-after-poll-results-183326">the Congress won convincingly in Chattisgarh</a>, less so in Rajasthan, and scraped through with a wafer-thin lead in Madhya Pradesh, final results showed after the vote count on Tuesday.&nbsp;

All eyes now were on party president Rahul Gandhi's choice of chief ministers of the three states, which he will decide after the victorious MLAs finish their meetings in the three states.&nbsp;

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A one-line proposal has been passed at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Bhopal. The High Command will take a decision on the Chief Minister face. <a href="https://t.co/Md3l3WMzz2">https://t.co/Md3l3WMzz2</a>
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Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi described the party's good showing in the Hindi heartland states as a victory over the BJP's "negative politics".

It was a "Congress victory over the BJP's negative politics," she said.

In Rajasthan, the contenders for the chief minister's post are Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, both of whom won huge victories in their constituencies.&nbsp;

"We have full majority and will stake claim to form government in the evening. We will take along all non-BJP parties and elected members who are against BJP and are willing to support us," Pilot told reporters at the Pradesh&nbsp;Congress Committee before the Congress Legislative Party meeting.

Asked about the choice of the chief minister, Pilot said the party's newly elected MLAs will debate the question, and the party president will take a decision after that. AICC General Secretary Avinash Pande and party's observer KC Venugopal will seek individual opinion of the party MLAs in the meeting.

The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in Rajasthan in Tuesday's vote count, winning 99 seats. It's ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won one seat for a total of 100 seats -- the required number to form government.

The BJP got 73 seats, and the Bahujan Samaj Party won 6 seats. BSP leader Mayawati on Wednesday pledged support for the Congress. The CPI(M) got two seats, Independents won 13 and other parties got 6, according to the state Election Commission.&nbsp;

In Chattisgarh, the contenders for the CM post are Lok Sabha member Tamradhwaj Sahu, who successfully contested the Assembly election from Durg Rural seat, state party chief Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader TS Singhdeo.

The Congress victory in Chhattisgarh ended the 15-year rule of the Raman Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party government. It won 68 seats in the 90-member Assembly, while the BJP got only 15 seats.

A party needs to win 46 seats to form government in the state.

"The Congress Legislature Party meeting will be held at 8 pm. All India Congress Committee's observer Mallikarjun&nbsp; 
Kharge, AICC in-charge for the state P L Punia and other senior leaders will be present there," state party unit's general secretary Shailesh Nitin Trivedi told PTI.

The chief minister is likely to be announced after the meeting.

The Congress got 43 per cent of the total votes polled in the state, while the BJP got 33 per cent.&nbsp;

After a see-saw battle on Tuesday, Congress emerged as the single largest party in Madhya Pradesh with 114 seats, two short of a simple majority. The BJP, which had ruled the state for 15 years, got 109 seats.

Three-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhhan tendered his resignation on Wednesday to Governor Anandiben Patel, who then met a Congress delegation here at noon after party leaders staked claim on the government.

Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced their parties' support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. BSP got two and SP one seat in the MP Assembly polls.

Congress has also claimed support of the four independents, all Congress rebels, who emerged victorious. 
After meeting the Governor, senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia came out of the Raj Bhavan and flashed victory signs.&nbsp;

In Mumbai, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the Assembly election results mark the "beginning of a change" and a "rejection" of the BJP-led government's policies.

Pawar, who turned 78 on Wednesday, said his party would support the Congress and also suggested the SP and the BSP throw their weight behind Congress.

Referring to the constant criticism of Rahul Gandhi by the BJP, the former Union minister said people did not like the Congress president being "ridiculed".

"People have expressed disappointment against the Modi government... The Assembly poll results mark the beginning of a change... People rejected the anti-farmers, anti-traders policies of Modi," Pawar told reporters here.

The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, said people have brought "those flying in the air back to the ground".

In an editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party alleged that the country was being run according to the "whims" of four-five businessmen, and this was "breaking" important institutions like the Reserve Bank of India.

The BJP first "drove away" allies and later lost important states, it said, adding that elections cannot be won merely on the back of big talks.

"The results clearly show that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (BJP president) Amit Shah's dream of making the country Congress-mukt has gone to the dust in BJP's own regime. People of these states have indicated at a 'BJP-mukt' regime," the Marathi publication said.&nbsp;

The Congress was poised on Wednesday to form governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, signalling a newfound energy in the party ranks and energising opposition efforts to stop the BJP juggernaut before general elections next year.

The Congress was poised on Wednesday to form governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, signalling a newfound energy in the party ranks and energising opposition efforts to stop the BJP juggernaut before general elections next year. Belying predictions of exit polls, the Congress won convincingly in Chattisgarh, less so in Rajasthan, and scraped through with a wafer-thin lead in Madhya Pradesh, final results showed after the vote count on Tuesday. All eyes now were on party president Rahul Gandhi's choice of chief ministers of the three states, which he will decide after the victorious MLAs finish their meetings in the three states. A one-line proposal has been passed at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Bhopal. The High Command will take a decision on the Chief Minister face. https://t.co/Md3l3WMzz2 — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018 × Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi described the party's good showing in the Hindi heartland states as a victory over the BJP's "negative politics". It was a "Congress victory over the BJP's negative politics," she said. In Rajasthan, the contenders for the chief minister's post are Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, both of whom won huge victories in their constituencies. "We have full majority and will stake claim to form government in the evening. We will take along all non-BJP parties and elected members who are against BJP and are willing to support us," Pilot told reporters at the Pradesh Congress Committee before the Congress Legislative Party meeting. Asked about the choice of the chief minister, Pilot said the party's newly elected MLAs will debate the question, and the party president will take a decision after that. AICC General Secretary Avinash Pande and party's observer KC Venugopal will seek individual opinion of the party MLAs in the meeting. The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in Rajasthan in Tuesday's vote count, winning 99 seats. It's ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won one seat for a total of 100 seats -- the required number to form government. The BJP got 73 seats, and the Bahujan Samaj Party won 6 seats. BSP leader Mayawati on Wednesday pledged support for the Congress. The CPI(M) got two seats, Independents won 13 and other parties got 6, according to the state Election Commission. In Chattisgarh, the contenders for the CM post are Lok Sabha member Tamradhwaj Sahu, who successfully contested the Assembly election from Durg Rural seat, state party chief Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader TS Singhdeo. The Congress victory in Chhattisgarh ended the 15-year rule of the Raman Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party government. It won 68 seats in the 90-member Assembly, while the BJP got only 15 seats. A party needs to win 46 seats to form government in the state. "The Congress Legislature Party meeting will be held at 8 pm. All India Congress Committee's observer Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC in-charge for the state P L Punia and other senior leaders will be present there," state party unit's general secretary Shailesh Nitin Trivedi told PTI. The chief minister is likely to be announced after the meeting. The Congress got 43 per cent of the total votes polled in the state, while the BJP got 33 per cent. After a see-saw battle on Tuesday, Congress emerged as the single largest party in Madhya Pradesh with 114 seats, two short of a simple majority. The BJP, which had ruled the state for 15 years, got 109 seats. Three-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhhan tendered his resignation on Wednesday to Governor Anandiben Patel, who then met a Congress delegation here at noon after party leaders staked claim on the government. Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced their parties' support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. BSP got two and SP one seat in the MP Assembly polls. Congress has also claimed support of the four independents, all Congress rebels, who emerged victorious. After meeting the Governor, senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia came out of the Raj Bhavan and flashed victory signs. In Mumbai, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the Assembly election results mark the "beginning of a change" and a "rejection" of the BJP-led government's policies. Pawar, who turned 78 on Wednesday, said his party would support the Congress and also suggested the SP and the BSP throw their weight behind Congress. Referring to the constant criticism of Rahul Gandhi by the BJP, the former Union minister said people did not like the Congress president being "ridiculed". "People have expressed disappointment against the Modi government... The Assembly poll results mark the beginning of a change... People rejected the anti-farmers, anti-traders policies of Modi," Pawar told reporters here. The Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, said people have brought "those flying in the air back to the ground". In an editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party alleged that the country was being run according to the "whims" of four-five businessmen, and this was "breaking" important institutions like the Reserve Bank of India. The BJP first "drove away" allies and later lost important states, it said, adding that elections cannot be won merely on the back of big talks. "The results clearly show that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (BJP president) Amit Shah's dream of making the country Congress-mukt has gone to the dust in BJP's own regime. People of these states have indicated at a 'BJP-mukt' regime," the Marathi publication said.

All eyes now on whom Rahul Gandhi will choose as his chief ministers

The BSP and SP chiefs Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have said they <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-is-time-for-change-rahul-gandhi-after-poll-results-183326">will help the Congress form governments</a> in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.&nbsp;

"To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies," said Mayawati.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies,"says Mayawati, BSP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssemblyElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssemblyElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/1gr6RFRZHO">pic.twitter.com/1gr6RFRZHO</a>
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"We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred and deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections," said Akhilesh.&nbsp;

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Akhilesh Yadav, former UP CM: We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred&amp;deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections. <a href="https://t.co/OzFGshIwBd">pic.twitter.com/OzFGshIwBd</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1072781826819846144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Congress won 114 seats in Madhya Pradesh, two short of the halfway mark. The BSP won two, and the SP one.&nbsp;

The Congress won 99 seats in Rajasthan, one short of the majority mark. The BSP won 6.&nbsp;

Late on Tuesday evening, as the results seemed to show the Congress would fall just short of the majority mark in MP and Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said his party had reached out to the two UP leaders.&nbsp;

The BSP and SP chiefs Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have said they will help the Congress form governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies," said Mayawati.

The BSP and SP chiefs Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have said they will help the Congress form governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies," said Mayawati. #WATCH: "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies,"says Mayawati, BSP #AssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/1gr6RFRZHO — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018 × "We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred and deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections," said Akhilesh. Akhilesh Yadav, former UP CM: We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred&deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections. pic.twitter.com/OzFGshIwBd — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 12, 2018 × The Congress won 114 seats in Madhya Pradesh, two short of the halfway mark. The BSP won two, and the SP one. The Congress won 99 seats in Rajasthan, one short of the majority mark. The BSP won 6. Late on Tuesday evening, as the results seemed to show the Congress would fall just short of the majority mark in MP and Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said his party had reached out to the two UP leaders.

Mayawati says will support Congress in MP & Rajasthan, Akhilesh says he will in former

Ashok Gehlot didn't make the Congress disappear altogether in Rajasthan and, in any case, the party's good showing in the assembly polls wasn't a solo act. But on Tuesday the Congress appeared close to picking the magician at heart for the chief minister's job.

Gehlot has said magic is in his soul. At a conjurors' convention in 2015 which he inaugurated by performing a little trick of his own, the veteran told the audience he would have followed in his magician father's footstep had he not joined politics.

This he did thanks to Indira Gandhi, according to some accounts. She is said to have noticed his work with refugees in the northeast and roped him in.

In his early years as a politician, he headed the Rajasthan unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and was later seen as a staunch loyalist of the Gandhi family.

Some in the party called him "gilli billi", a tag which referred to his past when he performed magic as an assistant to his father Laxman Singh Daksh on his tours.

Now, after a gap of five years, the veteran could be back in the saddle as chief minister.

After a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in the state capital on Wednesday, party president <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-is-time-for-change-rahul-gandhi-after-poll-results-183326">Rahul Gandhi will take a call </a>between the seasoned 67-year-old and Sachin Pilot, the youthful Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president.

Sometimes called "Rajasthan's Gandhi" for his simple lifestyle and mass connect, Gehlot has been chief minister twice earlier.

The first stint was in 1998-2003 and the second ended in 2013, with the Bharatiya Janata Party's Vasundhara Raje succeeding him each time.

Gehlot has also been at the helm of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee four times.

Currently an All India Congress Committee general secretary, Gehlot has been deployed by the party in crucial roles at the national level.

He was appointed AICC general secretary in charge of Gujarat just months ahead of last year's assembly polls. The Congress didn't win but managed to give the BJP a big scare in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.

In the recent Karnataka assembly polls, he was there in Bengaluru along with Ghulam Nabi Azad to help stitch together a post-poll coalition with Janata Dal (Secular) to form the government.

After his first proper job in the organisation as NSUI's Rajasthan president from 1974 to 1979, he went on to become the Jodhpur district Congress committee president from 1979 to 1982. Then, he was elevated as the state Congress committee's general secretary.

He was first-elected to Parliament in 1980, and went on to win Lok Sabha elections four more times. Since 1999, he has represented the Sardarpura assembly constituency, winning five consecutive terms in the House.

At the Centre, Gehlot has served as a minister of state in the ministries of tourism, civil aviation, sports and textiles, in different stints between 1982 and 1993.

He was also the AICC general secretary in charge of Delhi and the Sewa Dal cell from 2004-2009 and member of the Congress Working Committee looking after Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

Ashok Gehlot didn't make the Congress disappear altogether in Rajasthan and, in any case, the party's good showing in the assembly polls wasn't a solo act. But on Tuesday the Congress appeared close to picking the magician at heart for the chief minister's job.

Ashok Gehlot didn't make the Congress disappear altogether in Rajasthan and, in any case, the party's good showing in the assembly polls wasn't a solo act. But on Tuesday the Congress appeared close to picking the magician at heart for the chief minister's job. Gehlot has said magic is in his soul. At a conjurors' convention in 2015 which he inaugurated by performing a little trick of his own, the veteran told the audience he would have followed in his magician father's footstep had he not joined politics. This he did thanks to Indira Gandhi, according to some accounts. She is said to have noticed his work with refugees in the northeast and roped him in. In his early years as a politician, he headed the Rajasthan unit of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) and was later seen as a staunch loyalist of the Gandhi family. Some in the party called him "gilli billi", a tag which referred to his past when he performed magic as an assistant to his father Laxman Singh Daksh on his tours. Now, after a gap of five years, the veteran could be back in the saddle as chief minister. After a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in the state capital on Wednesday, party president Rahul Gandhi will take a call between the seasoned 67-year-old and Sachin Pilot, the youthful Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president. Sometimes called "Rajasthan's Gandhi" for his simple lifestyle and mass connect, Gehlot has been chief minister twice earlier. The first stint was in 1998-2003 and the second ended in 2013, with the Bharatiya Janata Party's Vasundhara Raje succeeding him each time. Gehlot has also been at the helm of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee four times. Currently an All India Congress Committee general secretary, Gehlot has been deployed by the party in crucial roles at the national level. He was appointed AICC general secretary in charge of Gujarat just months ahead of last year's assembly polls. The Congress didn't win but managed to give the BJP a big scare in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. In the recent Karnataka assembly polls, he was there in Bengaluru along with Ghulam Nabi Azad to help stitch together a post-poll coalition with Janata Dal (Secular) to form the government. After his first proper job in the organisation as NSUI's Rajasthan president from 1974 to 1979, he went on to become the Jodhpur district Congress committee president from 1979 to 1982. Then, he was elevated as the state Congress committee's general secretary. He was first-elected to Parliament in 1980, and went on to win Lok Sabha elections four more times. Since 1999, he has represented the Sardarpura assembly constituency, winning five consecutive terms in the House. At the Centre, Gehlot has served as a minister of state in the ministries of tourism, civil aviation, sports and textiles, in different stints between 1982 and 1993. He was also the AICC general secretary in charge of Delhi and the Sewa Dal cell from 2004-2009 and member of the Congress Working Committee looking after Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Ashok Gehlot: Magician at heart could become Rajasthan CM

Congress president Rahul Gandhi thanked the people and Congress workers — he called the latter babbar shers — after the Congress' poll wins in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

The battle in Madhya Pradesh continues with the BJP and Congress still neck and neck. Gandhi though said the Congress had won all three states.&nbsp;

"I thank people and Congress workers. The victory is of farmers and youths," Gandhi said.&nbsp;

"We have defeated BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh," he added.&nbsp;

Gandhi blamed the BJP's defeats squarely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

"There is a clear feeling in the country that PM Modi has failed to deliver what he had committed," Gandhi said. "Modi got a massive mandate but refused to listen to heartbeat of the country." &nbsp;

Gandhi said that "under BJP", there had been "big mismanagement of economy, unnecessary damage to sections of economy that were doing well".&nbsp;

He added that the "BJP has failed to provide a vision for the country going forward". &nbsp;

And just as Modi had promised parivartan (change) and vikas (development) before 2014, Rahul promised them now.&nbsp;

"It's now time for change. We are going to provide the three states with a vision for overall development," he said.&nbsp;

Gandhi added that the selection of chief ministers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh would be done smoothly.&nbsp;

"The process of loan waivers for farmers will start as soon as our governments are formed," Gandhi said.&nbsp;

He added though that "loan waiver is a measure, not a solution to farmers' distress".&nbsp;

Gandhi also promised a united fight in next year's general elections, saying the opposition "will fight together in 2019 polls".&nbsp;

He added that "we have defeated the BJP now and we will defeat it in 2019".&nbsp;

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi: BJP has an ideology, we'll fight against it &amp; defeat them. We have defeated them today &amp; we will do this again in 2019. But we don't want to erase anyone from the face of India. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssemblyElectionResults2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssemblyElectionResults2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/YctpLFJ2Sj">pic.twitter.com/YctpLFJ2Sj</a>
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Rahul Gandhi, Congress President: When PM was elected to power, he was elected on three platforms—employment, corruption and farmers. It was in people's mind that PM will fight against corruption. Now people think that PM Modi himself is corrupt. <a href="https://t.co/5tZVDiaz2J">pic.twitter.com/5tZVDiaz2J</a>
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His parting shot was: "I have learnt about a lot of things since 2014; most important being humility".&nbsp;

Congress president Rahul Gandhi thanked the people and Congress workers — he called the latter babbar shers — after the Congress' poll wins in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi thanked the people and Congress workers — he called the latter babbar shers — after the Congress' poll wins in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The battle in Madhya Pradesh continues with the BJP and Congress still neck and neck. Gandhi though said the Congress had won all three states. "I thank people and Congress workers. The victory is of farmers and youths," Gandhi said. "We have defeated BJP in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh," he added. Gandhi blamed the BJP's defeats squarely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "There is a clear feeling in the country that PM Modi has failed to deliver what he had committed," Gandhi said. "Modi got a massive mandate but refused to listen to heartbeat of the country." Gandhi said that "under BJP", there had been "big mismanagement of economy, unnecessary damage to sections of economy that were doing well". He added that the "BJP has failed to provide a vision for the country going forward". And just as Modi had promised parivartan (change) and vikas (development) before 2014, Rahul promised them now. "It's now time for change. We are going to provide the three states with a vision for overall development," he said. Gandhi added that the selection of chief ministers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh would be done smoothly. "The process of loan waivers for farmers will start as soon as our governments are formed," Gandhi said. He added though that "loan waiver is a measure, not a solution to farmers' distress". Gandhi also promised a united fight in next year's general elections, saying the opposition "will fight together in 2019 polls". He added that "we have defeated the BJP now and we will defeat it in 2019". Congress President Rahul Gandhi: BJP has an ideology, we'll fight against it & defeat them. We have defeated them today & we will do this again in 2019. But we don't want to erase anyone from the face of India. #AssemblyElectionResults2018 pic.twitter.com/YctpLFJ2Sj — ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018 × Rahul Gandhi, Congress President: When PM was elected to power, he was elected on three platforms—employment, corruption and farmers. It was in people's mind that PM will fight against corruption. Now people think that PM Modi himself is corrupt. pic.twitter.com/5tZVDiaz2J — ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018 × His parting shot was: "I have learnt about a lot of things since 2014; most important being humility".

After poll results, Rahul Gandhi promises 'change' and 'overall development'

As many as 13 of 19 ministers in the outgoing Vasundhara Raje government have lost the Assembly elections in Rajasthan as results and trends brought electoral reverses for the ruling BJP.

However, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her five cabinet colleagues have won their respective constituencies.

Raje (Jhalrapatan), Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria (Udaipur), Education Minister Vasundev Devnani (Ajmer North), Women and Child Development Minister Anita Bhadel (Ajmer South), Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore (Churu) and Higher Education Minister Kiran Maheshwari (Rajsamand) have retained their respective seats.

The chief minister won the Jhalrapatan seat with a margin of 34,980 votes by defeating her nearest rival and Congress leader Manvendra Singh, the son of veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh.&nbsp;

She had won the seat in 2013 elections with a margin of 60,896 votes.

Among the ministers who lost the elections are: Agriculture Minister Prabhu Lal Saini (Anta), Food &amp; Civil Supply Minister Baboo Lal Verma (Baran-Atru), Revenue Minister Amra Ram (Pachpadra), Tourism Minister Krishnendra Kaur (Nadbai), Housing and Urban Development Minister Srichand Kriplani (Nimahera).

Also among those who lost are Water Resources Minister Rampratap (Hanumangarh), Social Justice Minister Arun Chaturvedi (Civil Lines), Industries Minister Rajpal Singh (Jhotwara), Cooperative Minister Ajay Singh (Degana), Gaupalan Minister Otaram Devasi (Sirohi) and Transport Minister Yoonus Khan (Tonk).&nbsp;

Khan lost the Muslim-dominated seat of Tonk to Pradesh Congress Committee President Sachin Pilot with a margin of 54179 votes. He was the only Muslim candidate fielded by the BJP in the state.&nbsp;

PHED Minister Surendra Goyal (Jaitaran) and Devsthan Minister Rajkumar Rinwa (Ratangarh) had turned rebel after the BJP denied them ticket and they contested the elections as Independents. Both have lost their respective seats.&nbsp;

As many as 13 of 19 ministers in the outgoing Vasundhara Raje government have lost the Assembly elections in Rajasthan as results and trends brought electoral reverses for the ruling BJP.

As many as 13 of 19 ministers in the outgoing Vasundhara Raje government have lost the Assembly elections in Rajasthan as results and trends brought electoral reverses for the ruling BJP. However, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her five cabinet colleagues have won their respective constituencies. Raje (Jhalrapatan), Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria (Udaipur), Education Minister Vasundev Devnani (Ajmer North), Women and Child Development Minister Anita Bhadel (Ajmer South), Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore (Churu) and Higher Education Minister Kiran Maheshwari (Rajsamand) have retained their respective seats. The chief minister won the Jhalrapatan seat with a margin of 34,980 votes by defeating her nearest rival and Congress leader Manvendra Singh, the son of veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh. She had won the seat in 2013 elections with a margin of 60,896 votes. Among the ministers who lost the elections are: Agriculture Minister Prabhu Lal Saini (Anta), Food & Civil Supply Minister Baboo Lal Verma (Baran-Atru), Revenue Minister Amra Ram (Pachpadra), Tourism Minister Krishnendra Kaur (Nadbai), Housing and Urban Development Minister Srichand Kriplani (Nimahera). Also among those who lost are Water Resources Minister Rampratap (Hanumangarh), Social Justice Minister Arun Chaturvedi (Civil Lines), Industries Minister Rajpal Singh (Jhotwara), Cooperative Minister Ajay Singh (Degana), Gaupalan Minister Otaram Devasi (Sirohi) and Transport Minister Yoonus Khan (Tonk). Khan lost the Muslim-dominated seat of Tonk to Pradesh Congress Committee President Sachin Pilot with a margin of 54179 votes. He was the only Muslim candidate fielded by the BJP in the state. PHED Minister Surendra Goyal (Jaitaran) and Devsthan Minister Rajkumar Rinwa (Ratangarh) had turned rebel after the BJP denied them ticket and they contested the elections as Independents. Both have lost their respective seats.

13 of 19 Rajasthan ministers lose elections; CM Vasundhara Raje retains her seat

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) said Tuesday the Congresss-led alliance, of which it is a part, needs to analyse and introspect on the grouping's "failure" in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-election-results-2018-live-stakes-high-ahead-of-2019-general-elections-183025">Telangana Assembly elections</a>.

"We have to analyse the factors that contributed to the success of TRS and failure of our alliance," said Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, senior leader of TDP, led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

"We were expecting to get more number of seats. The results are not to our expectations," Reddy told PTI.

The alliance which also comprised the Telangana Jana Samithi and the Communist Party of India, did not fare well, and "we have to analyse and introspect where it went wrong, and we have to work together", he said.

"We have to respect people's verdict", Reddy said, adding the alliance would now strive hard to see to it that the TRS government implements the "tall promises" made by the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, TDP chief and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu said that he respects the mandate of the people of Telangana.&nbsp;

"TDP respects the mandate of people of Telangana. Congratulations to Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Also, best wishes to all the newly elected public representatives of 5 states," Naidu said.

"People recognize that BJP has done nothing in last 5 yrs and moving towards alternative. People are with us in our fight against BJP. These 5 states results will help form a strong alternative to the BJP," he added.&nbsp;

According to the official Election Commission data, KC Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samiti leads on around 80 seats.&nbsp;

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) said Tuesday the Congresss-led alliance, of which it is a part, needs to analyse and introspect on the grouping's "failure" in the Telangana Assembly elections.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) said Tuesday the Congresss-led alliance, of which it is a part, needs to analyse and introspect on the grouping's "failure" in the Telangana Assembly elections. "We have to analyse the factors that contributed to the success of TRS and failure of our alliance," said Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, senior leader of TDP, led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. "We were expecting to get more number of seats. The results are not to our expectations," Reddy told PTI. The alliance which also comprised the Telangana Jana Samithi and the Communist Party of India, did not fare well, and "we have to analyse and introspect where it went wrong, and we have to work together", he said. "We have to respect people's verdict", Reddy said, adding the alliance would now strive hard to see to it that the TRS government implements the "tall promises" made by the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party. Meanwhile, TDP chief and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu said that he respects the mandate of the people of Telangana. "TDP respects the mandate of people of Telangana. Congratulations to Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Also, best wishes to all the newly elected public representatives of 5 states," Naidu said. "People recognize that BJP has done nothing in last 5 yrs and moving towards alternative. People are with us in our fight against BJP. These 5 states results will help form a strong alternative to the BJP," he added. According to the official Election Commission data, KC Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samiti leads on around 80 seats.

Congress-led alliance needs introspection on failure: TDP

TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao said Tuesday that "we are going to play a crucial role in national politics".&nbsp;

The TRS is set to sweep <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-election-results-2018-live-stakes-high-ahead-of-2019-general-elections-183025">the elections</a> in Telangana.&nbsp;

The Election Commission was at 5.15 in the evening saying the TRS had won (21) or was leading (67) in 88 seats in Telangana out of a total of 119 seats.&nbsp;

The TRS then is expected to comfortably form a government in the state on its own.&nbsp;

"I will actively participate in national politics," KCR said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

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TRS President and Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao: I spoke to other political parties, we are going to play a crucial role in national politics. <a href="https://t.co/70izuwTQrT">https://t.co/70izuwTQrT</a>
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"I spoke to other political parties, we are going to play a crucial role in national politics," he added.&nbsp;

TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao said Tuesday that "we are going to play a crucial role in national politics". The TRS is set to sweep the elections in Telangana.

TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao said Tuesday that "we are going to play a crucial role in national politics". The TRS is set to sweep the elections in Telangana. The Election Commission was at 5.15 in the evening saying the TRS had won (21) or was leading (67) in 88 seats in Telangana out of a total of 119 seats. The TRS then is expected to comfortably form a government in the state on its own. "I will actively participate in national politics," KCR said on Tuesday. TRS President and Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao: I spoke to other political parties, we are going to play a crucial role in national politics. https://t.co/70izuwTQrT — ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018 × "I spoke to other political parties, we are going to play a crucial role in national politics," he added.

Ready to sweep Telangana, KCR says 'We are going to play crucial role in national politics'

The Mizo National Front on Tuesday won the state assembly elections by bagging 26 out of 40 assembly seats. According to the official Election Commission data, Congress managed to bag five seats while the BJP got just one. Independent candidates captured eight assembly seats.&nbsp;

Expressing happiness over MNF's victory, party chief Zoramthanga said that his first priority will be to "to impose a prohibition on liquor, repair roads and implement Social Economic Development Programme (SEDP) which is our flagship programme."

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Zoramthanga,MNF(President): We will not have any coalition govt either with BJP or any other ways because my party can form the govt on its own as we have got 26 seats out of 40. We're a part of NEDA(North-East Democratic Alliance)&amp;NDA but we wouldn't like to join Congress or UPA <a href="https://t.co/6oNlOMfnBm">pic.twitter.com/6oNlOMfnBm</a>
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Zoramthanga ruled out the possibility of an alliance and exuded the confidence of forming the government on own.&nbsp;

"We will not have any coalition government either with BJP or any other ways because my party can form the government on its own as we have got 26 seats out of 40. We're a part of NEDA (North-East Democratic Alliance) and NDA but we wouldn't like to join," he added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, incumbent Mizoram Chief Minister and Congress candidate <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/five-time-mizoram-cm-lal-thanhawla-loses-both-seats-183249">Lal Thanhawla lost</a> from both his home turf Serchhip and Champhai South seat Tuesday, Election Commission sources said, news agency PTI reported.

Lal Thanhawla was defeated in Serchhip by the Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma by a margin of 410 votes, they said.

He also lost to TJ Lalnuntluanga, a political novice and Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee, by a margin of 1,049 votes in Champhai South constituency near the Myanmar border.&nbsp;

The Mizo National Front on Tuesday won the state assembly elections by bagging 26 out of 40 assembly seats. According to the official Election Commission data, Congress managed to bag five seats while the BJP got just one.

The Mizo National Front on Tuesday won the state assembly elections by bagging 26 out of 40 assembly seats. According to the official Election Commission data, Congress managed to bag five seats while the BJP got just one. Independent candidates captured eight assembly seats. Expressing happiness over MNF's victory, party chief Zoramthanga said that his first priority will be to "to impose a prohibition on liquor, repair roads and implement Social Economic Development Programme (SEDP) which is our flagship programme." Zoramthanga,MNF(President): We will not have any coalition govt either with BJP or any other ways because my party can form the govt on its own as we have got 26 seats out of 40. We're a part of NEDA(North-East Democratic Alliance)&NDA but we wouldn't like to join Congress or UPA pic.twitter.com/6oNlOMfnBm — ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018 × Zoramthanga ruled out the possibility of an alliance and exuded the confidence of forming the government on own. "We will not have any coalition government either with BJP or any other ways because my party can form the government on its own as we have got 26 seats out of 40. We're a part of NEDA (North-East Democratic Alliance) and NDA but we wouldn't like to join," he added. Meanwhile, incumbent Mizoram Chief Minister and Congress candidate Lal Thanhawla lost from both his home turf Serchhip and Champhai South seat Tuesday, Election Commission sources said, news agency PTI reported. Lal Thanhawla was defeated in Serchhip by the Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma by a margin of 410 votes, they said. He also lost to TJ Lalnuntluanga, a political novice and Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee, by a margin of 1,049 votes in Champhai South constituency near the Myanmar border.

After winning Mizoram, MNF chief says first priority is 'to impose prohibition, repair roads'

Mizoram Chief Minister and Congress candidate Lal Thanhawla lost from both his home turf Serchhip and Champhai South seat Tuesday, Election Commission sources said.

Lal Thanhawla was defeated in Serchhip by the Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma by a margin of 410 votes, they said.

He also lost to TJ Lalnuntluanga, a political novice and Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee, by a margin of 1,049 votes in Champhai South constituency near the Myanmar border.&nbsp;

Mizoram Chief Minister and Congress candidate Lal Thanhawla lost from both his home turf Serchhip and Champhai South seat Tuesday, Election Commission sources said.

Mizoram Chief Minister and Congress candidate Lal Thanhawla lost from both his home turf Serchhip and Champhai South seat Tuesday, Election Commission sources said. Lal Thanhawla was defeated in Serchhip by the Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma by a margin of 410 votes, they said. He also lost to TJ Lalnuntluanga, a political novice and Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee, by a margin of 1,049 votes in Champhai South constituency near the Myanmar border.

Five-time Mizoram CM, Congress candidate Lal Thanhawla loses both seats