Legislative Assembly elections were held in Madhya Pradesh on 17 November 2023 to elect all 230 members of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The results were declared on 3 December 2023.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan fought the election against the Congress. BJP secured a landslide victory in the election. However, after the results were declared, Mohan Yadav, a relatively unknown face, was appointed as the chief minister by the national leadership of the BJP.
Background
The tenure of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on 6 January 2024. The previous assembly elections were held in November 2018. After the election, Indian National Congress formed the state government, with Kamal Nath becoming the Chief Minister.
Political development
In March 2020, 22 Congress MLAs resigned from the assembly, and defected to Bharatiya Janata Party along with Jyotiraditya Scindia, resulting in the collapse of the state government and resignation by Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Subsequently BJP formed the state government, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan becoming Chief Minister.
Poll rigging and violence
During the voting process in 2023 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the murder of four people belonging to Rajput caste took place in Chakrampur village of Shivpuri district. This incident happened on 17 November 2023, when some people belonging to Kushwaha caste were allegedly trying to do frivolous voting in the favour of Indian National Congress, Kailash Kushwah at the Chakrampur polling booth in Shivpuri district. When stopped by Rajput people, who were supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, the people belonging to Kushwaha caste allegedly surrounded them and tried to burn them alive inside their vehicle when they left the polling booth. On being unsuccessful in their attempt, the perpetrators thrashed them badly, leading to the deaths of four Rajput people belonging to the same family.
This village falls under Pohari Assembly constituency and there was massive protest by the people belonging to Rajput caste after the incident.
Schedule
The schedule of the election was announced by the Election Commission of India on 9 October 2023.
Parties and alliances
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Campaigns
Bharatiya Janata Party
Union Minister for Co-operation and Home Affairs and former BJP President Amit Shah launched his party's campaign for 2023 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election on 30 July 2023 at a huge political rally in Indore. Shah called upon the party workers and the crowd to break all the previous records of victory in the elections.
The BJP Madhya Pradesh announced its manifesto on 11 November 2023.
Manifesto
- Procurement of wheat at ₹2,700 and paddy at ₹3,100 per quintal from farmers
- ₹12,000 to farmers every year under the Kisan Samman Nidhi and Kisan Kalyaan Yojana
- Free education to every school student till Class 12th
- To open Eklavya Vidyalaya (school) in ST block
- 100 Units of electricity only for ₹100
- To build a medical college in ST dominated districts
- Nutritious breakfast along with mid-day-meal in government schools
- ₹20,000 crore investment in health sector to make "high-tech" hospitals. Number of beds in the ICU to double
- Establishing medical colleges in every Lok Sabha seat and add 2,000 more seats in 5 years
- Mukhya Mantri Jan Awas Yojana to be launched in the state. Under the scheme, homes will be provided to the poor strata of the society.
- Cylinder for ₹450
- Free ration to the poor for the next five years
- Modernisation of 80 railway stations. Inclusion of Vande Metro, Vande Bharat sleeper train. Build airport at Singrol and Shehdol
- Build six new expressway
- ₹3 lakh for the empowerment of tribal community
- Skill development activities for 15 lakh women from villages
- Girl child to be provided a total of ₹2 lakh ($2,400) until she attains the age of 21 years
- Beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna Scheme to be provided financial assistance, along with a pucca house
- Girls students from needy families to be provided free education "from KG to PG (post graduate)
Indian National Congress
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi launched her party's campaign at a huge rally in Jabalpur on 12 June 2023, hitting out at the BJP over scams and unfulfilled promises of jobs. She also announced the 5 guarantees of the Congress Party to the people of Madhya Pradesh.
The Madhya PCC released its manifesto which included seven rights and fifty-nine promises on 17 October 2023.
The party's campaign slogan for the election was "Congress ayegi, khushhali layegi" (Congress will usher in happiness).
Manifesto
- Farm waiver loans up to ₹2 lakh ($2,400)
- Wheat will be bought from farmers at ₹2,600 per quintal, rice at ₹2,500 per quintal
- Purchase of cow dung from farmers at ₹2 per kg
- 10,000 cow shelters
- Free school education to students
- Free electricity up to 100 units, and half bill up to 200 units
- Filling of 2 lakh government job vacancies
- Creation of 1 lakh new posts in villages
- Make the state an industrial hub
- Passage of Right to Health law ensuring ₹25 lakh ($30,000) health insurance cover and accidental cover of ₹10 lakh ($12,000) for all people
- Cylinder for ₹500
- 25% reservation to OBCs
- A caste census will be held
- Construction of Ram Van Gaman Path will be resumed
- Restoration of Old Pension Scheme for government employees
- Formation of a state IPL cricket team
- Formation of an artificial intelligence centre
- Pension of ₹1,500 per month to every woman
- Provision of ₹1.01 lakh ($1,215) on marriage of each girl from poor family
- Provision of ₹2.51 lakh ($3,015) to girls from birth to marriage under Meri Bitiya Rani scheme
- Loans up to ₹25 lakh ($30,000) to women-led startups
- 5,000 sq. ft plots to homeless women in rural areas
- Pension ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 per month to unemployed youth
- Provision of ₹500 to ₹1,500 per month to students of grade 1 to 12 under Padho-Padhao Yojana
Voting
Vote from home
The Election Commission of India granted permission for individuals aged 80 and above and those with physical challenges to cast their votes from their homes using ballot papers.
Surveys and polls
Exit polls
Exit polls were released on 30 November 2023.
Results
Results by party
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