Saffron wave across Hindi heartland; BJP coup in Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI: If the trends are to be believed, BJP has done a coup in Chhattisgarh with the saffron party gaining up to 50 seats from the total 90. BJP is well past the majority number of 46 and shockingly enough chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is trailing.

The trends are similar in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh. As the vote counting passes the first two hours, it is to be learned that the saffron wave has swept through the Hindi heartland with Congress getting the respite only in Telangana, where the anti-incumbency wave has paid the price for BRS.

The perpetual discord between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and party icon Sachin Pilot is reflecting well in the election results in Rajasthan with BJP crossing the majority mark in the desert land. It has been the long continuing custom of Rajasthan to not allow an incumbent government to continue the next term and the same trend seems to be continuing. Even the Gurjar-dominated parts of Rajasthan have now sided with the BJP; a walk away from the normal trend which is attributed mainly to the neglect shown by Congress towards Gurjar leader Sachin Pilot.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is heading to a landslide victory as the congress workers have already locked the party offices and barred the media from entering it. Early on Sunday, flex boards praising Kamal Nath’s new government were seen in front of the Congress Bhopal office, and now it has been cleared. On another note, there is ambiguity regarding Shivraj Singh Chouhan getting another term as Madhya Pradesh CM. The central leadership in Delhi wants a new face and that too the royal scion and current aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Telangana is reeling under strong anti-incumbency sentiment. Congress has arguably dashed KCR's dream of a hat-trick victory after the formation of the state.