Among the most important highlight is the re-emergence of Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan as the most powerful leader not only in the BJP but in the state. He proved that he is a very hard working leader and developed remarkable rapport with voters.

Though Chouhan has emerged as a very popular leader but he will have to encounter an unique situation. So far he was presiding over a single party council of ministers. But henceforth he will be the chief of a coalition government. In the earlier ministry every minister had their roots in the RSS. If any minister challenged his authority he sought RSS help to restrain them. But now he will be facing ministers loyal to Scindia. Thus the new ministry for all practical purposes will be a coalition ministry.

It is crystal clear that by and large voters made it clear that they had no difficulty in electing defectors and for them defection is no sin. The saffron party swept the bypolls, winning19 seats leaving Congress with just nine, staring a three more years of introspection in opposition. Shiv-Jyoti express – as BJP Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia had named himself and Chouhan – was on a roll as soon as counting began at 8.30 am and picked up speed, hour on hour.

“The huge (9%) difference in vote share is a clear indication of who the people of Madhya Pradesh trust more” said CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. “The public seems committed to development and welfare, and it is evident that voters have decided to hand us the responsibility. This is the victory of humility and decency” he added pointing out that Congress’s vicious campaign and name calling backfired.

Scindia and BJP suffered setback when three ministers lost to Congress. The most stunning, perhaps was women and child development minister Imarti Devi’s loss to Congress’s Suresh Raje by 7,633 votes. BSP’s Santosh Gaur cut in with 4,883 votes and NOTA claimed 1,690 in Dabra, handing Imarti – who had claimed that chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scinda wanted her as deputy CM – her first defeat since 2008. BJP made Kamal Nath’s remark calling Imarti Devi “item” a major issue during campaign. Not only Chief Minister Chouhan but most of campaigners referred to the “item” comment in their speeches and described it as an insult to a dalit woman. But it appears it did not help in her victory.

PHE minister Aidal Singh Kansan was defeated in Sumawali, which had seen violence on voting day. Congress’s Ajab Singh Kushwaha defeated him by nearly 11,000 votes. This was where Congress had filed the maximum complains alleging that police were helping Kansana.

MoS agriculture Giriraj Dandotiya, who had incurred the EC’s ire for threatening PCC chief Kamal Nath, lost Dimani to Congress’s Ravindra Singh Tomar by over 26,000 votes. BSP’s Rjendra Singh Kansana wrested 10,235 votes but it wasn’t a factor in Dandotiya’s defeat.

Some newspapers have pointed out that defeat of some Scindia loyalists indicate that there is erosion in his influence. The Congress’s victory in Chambal and Gwalior indicates Scindia was not very effective. The BJPs win in Malwa-Nimar region shows the party has done extremely well in those areas where Chouhan and BJP organisation have influence.

On the other hand, the BJP did not perform according to its expectations in those places where Scindia has clout.

In the evening Kamal Nath tweeted “We respect the mandate. We made all efforts to reach out our views to the people. I thank all voters of the by-elections. I hope that the BJP government will keep in mind the welfare of farmers, provide employment to the youth, maintain respect and security to women, take forward our work for new construction of the state all will lead the state on the path of development and progress”.

The former CM said “We accept the mandate and will fulfil responsibility of the opposition, always stand and struggle for he interest of the state and people. We will review these results”.

The RSS attached great importance to the MP polls. Indication to this effect was clear as the RSS chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat spent more than three days in Bhopal.

According to some observers, the Bhumi Pujan of Ram Mandir was also a crucial factor in BJP’s victory.

A very interesting contest took place in Bada Malehra constituency. In this constituency BJP sponsored a Uma Bharti loyalist. To oppose Uma Bharati’s candidate Congress set up sadhvi who gave a tough fight but lost by a margin of 17,567 votes. After the poll results final position of various political parties is following: total seats – 230, BJP 126, Congress 96, BSP 02 SP 01 Independent 04. (IPA Service)