Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018: 14 ministers in Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet trailing

In what could be a wake up call for the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, fourteen ministers in Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet are trailing in the Assembly polls as per the latest trends in the state. Thirteen ministers are leading as per the trend so far.

While state minister Narottam Mishra was trailing by a margin of 3,114 votes from Datia seat, Rustam Singh was at the third position in Morena constituency.

Besides, Balkrishna Patidar was trailing in Khargone by a margin of 44 votes, while Lal Singh Arya was lagging behind by a margin 3,039 votes from Gohad seat in Bhind district. Minister Om Prakash Dhurve was at the third place in Shahpura seat of Dindori district while Antar Singh Arya was trailing by 3,626 votes in Sendhwa seat in Barwani district.

Minister Deepak Joshi was behind by 4,219 votes in Hatpipliya seat in Dewas district, while Vijay Shah was also trailing by a margin of 1,304 votes in Harsud seat in Khandwa. Minister Rampal Singh was trailing by 1,193 votes in Silvani seat in Raisen district.

Read | Madhya Pradesh Election Results 2018 LIVE: Neck-and-neck fight between BJP and Congress

Former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee's nephew Anoop Mishra, who contested the election on the BJP's ticket, was trailing from Bhitarwar seat in Gwalior district by 502 votes, an election official said. Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh was trailing Churhat seat in Satna district.

However, even after 13 years in office, Chouhan has continued to be the preferred chief minister in the state and is leading in Budhni constituency after the fourth round of counting. The counting began at 8 am this morning.

As per the latest trends, the BJP and Congress have locked horns in a neck-and-neck fight with both the parties having a 50-50 chance to form the government in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress is expected to pick between Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath for the chief minister's post if the party is voted to the power in the state.

Read | Assembly Election Result Live Updates: Congress sweeps Chhattisgarh, hung Assemblies likely in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

As many as 2,907 candidates were in fray for the November 28 Assembly polls as Chouhan of the BJP is attempting a fourth term in office, while challenger Congress hopes a comeback after a 15-year gap.

In 2013, the BJP had won 165 seats and the Congress bagged 58 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had won four seats while three seats were bagged by Independents.