Exit polls predict BJP ahead in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh; Congress gains in Telangana, ahead in Chhattisgarh | India News

NEW DELHI: The Congress and the BJP are likely to share the honours in this round of crucial assembly elections, with the exit polls predicting the grand old party ahead in Telangana and winning in Chhattisgarh while the saffron party ahead in Madhya Pradesh and winning Rajasthan.
Voting was held in the five states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram between November 7 and November 30.The results of the five states will be declared on Sunday, December 3.
Madhya Pradesh
In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress and the BJP are tied in a neck and neck battle. According to poll of exit polls, the BJP may win 116 seats while the Congress could win 111 seats.
In the last assembly elections, the Congress had won 114 seats and the BJP was close behind with 109 seats. The Congress formed the government under Kamal Nath with the help of smaller parties and independents. However, a rebellion led by Jyotiraditya Scindia derailed the Congress government and the BJP returned to power with the help of rebel Congress leaders.

Chhattisgarh
In Chhattisgarh, the Congress is ahead in a cliffhanger contest with the poll of polls predicting 48 seats while the BJP 39.
The Congress had won the 2018 assembly elections with a thumping majority bagging 68 out of the 90 assembly seats. The BJP could manage to win only 15 after three terms of power in the state.

Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, exit polls predict BJP ahead of the ruling Congress. The BJP is predicted to win 111 seats while the Congress could win 74. If these numbers prove true, Ashok Gehlot could be on his way out.
In 2018, the Congress had won 99 seats while the BJP won 73. Ashok Gehlot became the chief minister with the support of BSP MLAs and independents.

Telangana
Telangana could see the Congress getting close to forming a government for the first time in the state. The polls of exit polls predict 56 seats for the Congress while the BRS could win 48. The BJP may win 10 and the AIMIM 5.
In the last assembly elections in 2018, Telangana Rashtra Samithi won a landslide bagging 88 seats out of 119. The Congress could win only 19 and the BJP 1. The AIMIM, which won 7 seats in 2018, is contesting these elections in alliance with the TRS, which is now known as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi.