Elections were held in 43 local bodies out of which BJP won 26, Congress 14 and Independents 3. It is significant that in 2012, the Congress tally was only 6 which increased to 14.

The results are also warning bell for the BJP because BJP lost local bodies in the constituencies of 12 BJP legislators including 2 ministers.

The civic polls outcome indicates that things will not be easy for these MLAs in assembly polls.

The BJP lost in Shahpura, assembly constituency of Minister Omprakash Dhurvey. The Congress candidate registered a victory in the Right-to-Recall polls in Suryaprakash Meena’s constituency Shamshabad.

Among MLAs, the BJP had to bite the dust in the constituencies of Sangeeta Charel (Sailana), Shantilal Bilawal (Jhabua), Nagar Singh Chouhan (Alirajpur), Rajkumar Mev (Maheshwar), Nathanshah Kavreti (Junnardeo), Nanabhau Mahod (Sausar), Rampyarare Kulaste (Niwas) and Hitendra Solanki (Badwah). Besides wrong choice of candidates, anti-incumbency sentiment against these MLAs is also said to be behind the defeat of the BJP. In legislature party meetings, Chief Minister Chouhan has been telling the MLAs in unequivocal terms that those who perform poorly may not be fielded by the party in assembly polls. The state party chief has already announced that the party will review the reasons for its defeat. This may create further problems for the MLAs.

Another significant factor was that the BJP suffered serious defeats in Mandsaur district in which five persons were killed in police firing during the farmers' agitation.

Congress wrested wards 4 and 9 from BJP in Shamgarh municipal council in Mandsaur district – the epicentre of the farmers' agitation, where five farmers were killed in police firing just eight weeks before the August 11 polls.

These two wards were BJP strongholds where Congress has never made inroads in 25 years until now. The twin wins have come as a shot in the arm for Congress camp, which sees it as a "trailer for what's going to come in 2018 assembly polls".

However, local factors – especially dissent among a section of BJP councillors – might have played a role, say party sources.

Congress candidate Gopal Patel defeated BJP's Naveen Nandwani by a record 623 votes in ward 4 and Nilesh Sanghvi won ward 9 by defeating BJP's Neelkamal Mehta by 313 votes.

The by polls were necessitated by the death of councillors Suresh Narbhepuria (ward 4) and Sunil Ghanotia (ward 9) in a car accident while on their way to Bhopal with a delegation of councillors, including those of Congress, to file a complaint against the chief municipal officer with the chief minister.

"There are several factors that led to the defeat. We will soon hold meetings to analyse them," Mandsaur BJP chief Devilal Dhakad told media. "Dissent among BJP councillors over differences with the chief municipal officer might also have played a role," he added.

Both wards are predominantly inhabited by the business class. Two former council presidents and BJP and Jansangh stalwarts live here, which make the Congress win all the more shocking for BJP.

Senior BJP leaders had campaigned intensively here, camping in the area for over 20 days, trying to consolidate their vote bank and plug any fissures opened up by the farmer agitation. But Congress romped home, riding on anti-government sentiments after the farmer deaths.

"The Modi and Chouhan waves did not work here. The farmers' agitation and killing of six persons fired up sentiments among people against BJP. Demonetisation, GST and subsequent decisions by the Centre and state shifted people's faith towards Congress, especially that of the business class," newly-elected councillor Nilesh Sanghvi told media.

Congress also retained ward 13 of Garoth municipal council, with Sangeeta Lalit defeating BJP's Vinod Gwala by just 75 votes. Sangeeta's husband Lalit Chandel was councillor earlier, but was removed by an executive order after a criminal case was registered against him.

"Chandel's removal was wrong because his crime was not proven and nor he was convicted. It did not go down well with the people of the ward," Mandsaur district Congress president Prakash Ratadia said, adding. "Victories in Shamgarh and Garoth are the turning point in MP politics. It is a trailer of what is going to come in 2018. People will give befitting reply to the wrong policies of BJP."

Otherwise also Mandsaur has been BJP strong hold since the first general elections and therefore defeats have come as a rude shock to the BJP leadership. Another important aspect of the Congress victory was the fact that it snatched several local bodies in the predominantly tribal areas.

There is one more important factor for celebration for the Congress. The BJP succeeded in overthrowing Congress president of Gadarwara Municipal Council through a no confidence motion. According to provision in the rules governing local bodies, a president after his removal thru a no confidence motion can go to the people to seek their verdict. Taking advantage of this provision Congress president sought people's opinion and managed to retain the seat. This was regarded as a great setback for the BJP especially because Gadarwara town is represented in the Vidhan Sabha by a BJP leader.

To make it worse, BJP also lost the urban civic bodies of Damua and Mohgaon Haveli in Chhindwara district which are part of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath's Lok Sabha constituency. Five years ago, these two places had elected BJP candidates. Congress also won Junardeo municipal council, again in Chhindwara district.

In Maheshwar municipal council in Khargone, Congress candidate Amita Jain bagged 7,888 votes against BJP's Bela Bhupendra Jain who got 4,982. This is a loss of face for BJP since it comes within state party chief Nandkumar Singh Chouhan's Lok Sabha constituency. Out of power in the state for 14 years, Congress seems to have gained lost ground mainly in Chhindwara.

"BJP has very little to cheer about. There are four seats that Congress has lost by very slim margins," said leader of Opposition Ajay Singh. "We lost Athner municipal council in Betul and Chhenra in Khandwa by less than 50 votes. BJP lost its seats in the constituencies of Union minister Sushma Swaraj and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The CM campaigned in 31 urban civic body wards and Congress won 13 of them. Certainly, all is not well for BJP," Singh added. (IPA Service)