WEB DESK
BHOPAL/ NEW DELHI: Even as full results of the assembly elections are yet to come till past midnight in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress, which is emerging as the single largest party but slightly short of a majority, is not taking any chances. State party chief Kamal Nath late on Tuesday wrote to Governor Anandiben Patel, staking claim to form the government.
Claiming that the Congress has the support of Independent candidates, Mr Nath asked for a meeting with Governor Patel, as soon as the results are declared. Kamal Nath, a master strategist, has already opened talks with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Samajwadi Party, Gondwana Gantantra Party and independents.
“The Congress party has emerged as the single largest party with a majority support. All the independents have in addition assured support to the Congress party,” Kamal Nath wrote in his letter.
“As the president of Pradesh Congress Committee, I seek an appointment with your Excellency late tonight, as soon as the results are officially declared along with my senior leaders to apprise you and seek your permission to form government in the state of Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
However, sources in Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s office, have said till the final results are announced, it would be difficult to commit a time for the meeting.
In Madhya Pradesh Results have been declared in 178 of the state’s 230 constituencies and are awaited in 52 others. The Congress has won 88 seats and is leading in 25 others. If it wins all these seats, it will end up with 113 seats, three short of majority.
Independent candidates have won three seats are leading in one more. If they support the Congress, the party will manage to cross the halfway mark.
The Congress in Madhya Pradesh has now alleged that the Election Commission is being pressurised by bureaucrats of Shivraj Singh Chouhan to ‘hold the election results’. The Congress has claimed that it has won five seats, including Damoh, but the Collector isn’t issuing certificates.