BJP's victory in Chhindwara is significant as it happens to be the citadel of Kamalnath, a powerful Congress leader of Madhya Pradesh.

Beginning from the massive victory in Assembly polls in November 2013, followed by the BJP capturing 27 of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in the State in2014 general elections, this is the third successive electoral victory of the ruling party.

As for the massive victory in local elections, state BJP leaders give the entire credit to Shivraj Singh. During Lok Sabha elections, the BJP leaders sought vote in the name of Narendra Modi. The slogan this time was if you want development, strengthen the hands of Chauhan and this can be done by electing BJP candidates. This appeal did wonders and now the BJP controls the Assembly, big majority of Lok Sabha seats and the local bodies too.

There are some significant features of the municipal elections. Take the example of Indore where the writ of only Kailash Vijayvargiya (a powerful minister) runs. He was opposed to the candidature of Malini Gaud. But despite his opposition, Malini Gaud was elected with a very large margin. Indore also happens to be the constituency of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who never had cordial relations with Vijayvargiya

Malini had the blessings of Sumitra Mahajan. Thus, Malini's election is being regarded as a setback to Vijayvargiya. In Bhopal, out of the five Vidhan Sabha constituencies, the highest number of BJP ward members was elected from the constituency of Home Minister Babulal Gaur. The corporation result proved that Gaur's command over his constituency continues. This constituency has elected Gaur ten times. While Gaur retained his hold, Uma Shankar Gupta, Higher Education Minister lost some key wards, from where Congress candidates were elected.

This time the BJP made a very serious bid to woo Muslims in Bhopal, where they have a significant presence. BJP had fielded ten Muslim candidates in elections for Bhopal Municipal Corporation but only one of them could get past the victory post. These candidates were fielded from Muslim dominated areas but a majority of the voters of the community did not back them, and they did get the votes of Hindus.

Narendra Modi, after becoming Prime Minister of the country, tried to send a message that secularism would be the guiding principle of the government. Despite Modi's message and untiring efforts of Chauhan, BJP lost the elections at places where Muslim votes played a decisive role.

The candidates fielded by BJP for Corporators' posts did not win from Muslim dominated areas. Similarly, BJP mayoral candidate Alok Sharma did not get votes in these areas.

The party had given ticket to Nurul Hasan, son of former Union Minister Arif Beg but he got only 2,258 votes. BJP candidate Shamim Afzal got only 4,771 votes, Afroz Khan got 2,221 votes, Mohd. Irshad got 2,385 votes and stood third. Similarly, Shazia Khalil got 2,150 votes, Rafiq Ahmad got 3,243 votes, Samina Rehan got 4,109 votes and Zarina Aziz got 4,171 votes. Masarat was the only BJP candidate who could manage to win, with a margin of 2,446 votes.

Congress MLA Arif Aqueel maintains that his party had given ticket to weak candidate otherwise the BJP could not have won. Aqueel asked why Muslims would give vote to BJP when they have been treated as second-rate citizens for the past 11 years.

The massive victory in local elections has boosted the image of Chauhan and added to his stature in the eyes of the central leadership. It is undoubtedly a very serious setback to the Congress, which failed to capture a single corporation. This time too leaders of various factions almost kept themselves away from the campaign. Barring Digvijay Singh, who addressed public meetings at various places where polling was held, no other leader of significance joined the election campaign. Kailash Mishra, Congress' Mayoral candidate from Bhopal was the choice of former union minister Suresh Pachouri. Because Mishra was the choice of Pachouri, Congressmen owing allegiance to other leaders kept away from the campaign.

While the elections to urban local bodies are over, the second phase of election to Panchayats has just been completed.

Though Panchayat elections are not held on party basis, political parties do get involved indirectly. Successive election to Panchayats have already vitiated the atmosphere in the rural areas. At many places, violent clashes took place during the second phase of election. Reports of violent incidents in some Panchayats of Bhind and Morena districts have reached Bhopal.

In one such incident, fire arms were used by the rivals resulting in the killing of a person and leaving many others seriously injured. Reports of booth capturing have also come. Money power and muscle power play a significant role in the Panchayat elections. People take loan from money lenders to finance elections.

In one such case, a candidates from Barwani district sold his nephew to raise funds for electioneering. Many such incidents are finding place in media. (IPA Service)