Vote Cutter Fringe Parties, Independents Cost Congress 28 Seats in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: Fringe parties and independents have proved to be vote cutters in the recently held assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, hurting Congress in 28 seats.

The fringe parties that had damaged the prospects of Congress the most included Bahujan Samaj Party (BS), Samajwadi Party (SP), Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) and Prahar Janshakti.

In Gwalior-Chambal region comprising 34 seats, BSP caused the defeat of Congress in seven seats with the party’s candidates polling more than the victory margins in these seats.

The seven-time Congress MLA Dr Govind Singh, who is also the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, was defeated in his home constituency of Lahar by his nearest rival and BJP candidate Ambarish Sharma Guddu by a margin of 12,397 votes.

The BSP candidate in the constituency Rasal Singh had polled 31,348 votes.

Congress candidates in six other Assembly seats in the region lost the polls for similar reasons.

In Bundelkhand region comprising 26 seats, Congress lost seven seats with candidates of BSP and SP proving to be vote cutters in the constituencies.

In Baghelkhand region comprising 30 seats, Congress lost three seats with the BSP and GGP proving major vote cutters in these constituencies.

In Malwa-Nimar region comprising 66 seats, Congress lost three seats because of the presence of independents and fringe parties such as Azad Samaj Party and AIMIM who proved to be vote cutters of the Congress.

In Mahakoshal-Narmadapuram region comprising 58 seats, GGP and Prahar Janshakti proved to be vote cutters of Congress in eight seats, leading to the defeat of candidates of the grand old party there.

BJP pulled off a stunning victory in the outgoing Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh by winning 163 seats. Congress won 66 seats.

Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) has opened its account in Madhya Pradesh in the poll by securing one seat.

BSP had fielded its candidates in 178 seats and its alliance partner GGP had put up its candidates in 52 seats.

SP had fielded its candidates in 72 seats whereas AIMIM had fielded candidates in for seats.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had fielded candidates in 66 seats.

All the fringe parties barring BAP have drawn a blank in the polls.