Will anti-incumbency play an important role in Madhya Pradesh Elections 2023?

electorate in Mhya Presh voted to elect a new government on November 17 and counting of votes will take place on December 3, 2023. ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress are main contenders for power apart from political parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwi Party (SP) and Aam Ami Party (AAP) who want to make ir presence felt.

Anti-incumbency in Mhya Presh?

BJP is currently facing a significant challenge in overcoming anti-incumbency factor that has been building up over nearly four terms, with exception of a 15-month period from December 2018 to March 2020 when Congress was in power. On or hand, Congress is attempting to take vantage of what it perceives as public resentment against Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government on a variety of issues.

After three consecutive triumphs in Mhya Presh Assembly elections in 2003, 2008 and 2013, saffron party lost to Congress in 2018 but managed to return to power in March 2020 when Kamal Nath-led government collapsed.

All se years, Mhya Presh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan remained face of party. However, this time, in a change of strategy, BJP has fielded three Union Ministers and four MPs in an attempt to blunt anti-incumbency against Chouhan. presence of several senior BJP leers has also left field wide open for chief ministerial aspirants.

Although Congress party has declared Kamal Nath, a veteran leer, as its CM candidate, BJP has not yet announced any clear stance on matter. Despite that, Chief Minister Chouhan remains most popular figure among state leers.

grand old party's campaign relied on alleged corruption under BJP rule. opposition party has claimed in Karnataka it was "40 percent commission" government when BJP was in power, but in Mhya Presh it is "50 percent" cut. party also listed over 250 "major scams'' during 18 years of BJP rule.