The ruling BJP may find the going tough in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, with an opinion poll on Monday predicting an impressive win for the Congress in the three states slated for Assembly polls later this year.
Rajasthan is likely to be a washout for the BJP if one goes by the opinion poll conducted by ABPNews-CVoter with a likelihood of the saffron party losing more than 100 seats it holds now. At present, the BJP has 160 seats and the support of an independent in the 200-member Assembly, but the survey claimed it may get only 57 seats if the elections are held today. The Congress, which has just 25 seats in the current Assembly, is likely to register a five-time jump in the number of seats to 130. However, the difference in vote share between the Congress (40%) and the BJP (39%) is very narrow.
Chief Minister Vasundhare Raje, who is facing farmers’ unrest and other issues, is also not on top of the popularity chart as Congress general secretary and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot trounces her. While Raje has only 24% popularity rating, Gehlot is way ahead with 41% while his younger rival in the party Sachin Pilot has just 18% approval rate. While the Congress has no plans to declare a chief ministerial candidate, Gehlot and Pilot are placing themselves for the top job in the state.
For Raje, it is a double whammy as BJP chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh) and Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh) are way ahead of their political rivals despite the party losing in their states.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is predicted to trounce the three-term Chief Minister Chouhan. The Congress is slated to get 117, one more than the half-way mark in a House of 230, while the BJP has to settle with 106 seats. Others may win seven constituencies.
At present, in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has 167 seats, including an independent, while the Congress has 57 and BSP 4. There are two other independents who are with the Opposition.
As per the vote share, the Congress could get 42% in Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. Though the BJP is predicted lose the state, Chouhan is still a popular face by clocking 42% while Congress’ Jyotiraditya Scindia is behind at 30%. Congress’ another aspirant Kamalnath has the support of 7%.
Chhattisgarh also does not bring good news for the BJP. The survey predicted that the Congress would romp home comfortably unseating the present government. While the BJP is slated to get only 33 seats. Singh continues to remain popular with 34%, followed by former Congress leader Ajit Jogi at 17% and Congress leader Bhupesh Bhagel at 9%. The BJP’s vote share is predicted to be 39% while that of Congress is 40% and others 21%.