Assembly Election Results 2023: Vote counting to begin soon; Crucial test for parties ahead of LS polls

As vote counting commences from 8 AM today (December 03) for recent Assembly elections held across five Indian states, stakes run high for national parties BJP and Congress seeking advantage ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Vote counting to begin at 8 am today

The vote counting will start amid tight security for 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, 119 seats in Telangana, and 199 seats in Rajasthan as polling on one seat in the desert state was put off due to the death of a candidate.

What exit poll say?

Having bagged the three hindi-belt states in 2018 aided by farm distress, Congress hopes to retain control in resource-rich Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while reclaiming MP from former ally turned rival BJP's control.

The BJP conversely aims to hold sway in MP and return to rule in the northwest states after past debacles. Expanding Telangana's footprint by eating into TRS dominance also remains a target.

Meanwhile, regional outfits like Mamata Banerjee's TMC and Arvind Kejriwal's AAP also joined the electoral melee in a fight for municipal dominance in the capital's local polls.

Crucial for 2024 Lok Sabha elections

For national parties, state wins supply critical momentum for 2024 Lok Sabha election bids besides granting useful resources. Crucial organisational revamps also rest on performances to reshape strategies.

"These polls set the tone for national politics for the next 18 months. Outcomes in states like MP, Rajasthan and Telangana will dictate internal power dynamics within parties too," said commentator Prakash Menon.

In Mizoram, the ruling MNF faces Congress and ZPM challenges to defy anti-incumbency pressures after its 2018 rise.

Tight security deployed

Elaborate security blanket counting centres with entry restricted only for authorized officials and observers. The high-stakes counting of electronic voting machines will likely stretch over the weekend before final scorecards emerge.