Madhya Pradesh Election Result: BJP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Continue as CM, Jyotiraditya Scindia Upset

Incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will continue to head the State Assembly in Madhya Pradesh with a majority of 161 seats for a third term.

Enthusiastic Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters in Bhopal celebrated outside Chouhan's residence and shouted slogans while waving the party flag of lotus.

Chouhan stepped out of the house when all news channels declared a victory for him and his party."In a democracy there is nothing bigger than a mandate. I heartily accept your good wishes," Chouhan posted on his Twitter handle.

Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and BJP president Rajnath Singh congratulated Chouhan for a landslide victory in the state.

"Called Shivraj ji to congratulate him for BJP's wonderful performance in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections!" Modi posted on his Twitter handle.

Rajnath Singh tweeted, "Spoke to Shri @ChouhanShivraj and Smt. @VasundharaBJP and congratulated them on BJP's spectacular victory in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan."

The Indian National Congress in Madhya Pradesh, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, is expected to land with 60 assembly seats, lower than what they gathered in 2008.

Even in the Shivpuri constituency, BJP's Yashodhara Raje gained a lead against her nephew and Congress projected chief ministerial candidate Jyotiraditya.

He reacted on his party's defeat in an interview with NDTV, "My congratulations to the BJP and Mr Chouhan. Obviously it is very disappointing for us. This calls for a reconstruction of the party policies from bottom up and down. I think we need to re-evaluate everything" He campaigned in the state for 50 days before the state polls.

When Congress leader Rajiv Shukla was asked on NDTV whether his party lost because high command Sonia Gandhi refused to disclose the chief ministerial candidate, he said, "Yes I agree that formation of the election campaign committee in Madhya Pradesh was a bit late, it was formed in September. We should have started earlier."

The Congress party cadre has always been reluctant to announce party Vice President Rahul Gandhi as their prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Shukla was asked whether his party will declare the prime ministerial sooner looking at the state assembly results, "Who is the party candidate only Sonia ji can announce that, she along with Rahul ji need to discuss it among them. But yes, we all want Rahul Gandhi to be the candidate for PM. I demand that the party should announce the candidate as soon as possible."

There were reports, before the voting for state polls, that there was a rift among Congress leaders in the state for being the chief ministerial nominee.

A total of 71 percent of voter turnout was recorded on 25 November. The BJP leader has been ruling the state since 2003 and retained the post of Chief Minister for a third consecutive tenure.