Elections to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly were held on 28 November 2018 to elect members of the 230 constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. The results were declared on 11 December 2018. The election was a direct political battle between the BJP and the INC.

While the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government vied to win for a consecutive 4th term, the INC fought for winning the state after 2003. The election led to a hung assembly, with the INC emerging as the single largest party with 114 seats and the BJP winning the popular vote and 109 seats. After the results, Congress and BSP formed the government with Kamal Nath becoming the chief minister.

Background The tenure of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly elected in 2013 ended on 7 January 2019.

Schedule Election dates were announced on 6 October 2018 and voting was held on 28 November 2018.

Results were declared on 11 December 2018.

EventDateDay Date for Nominations 2 Nov 2018 Friday Last Date for filing Nominations 9 Nov 2018 Friday Date for scrutiny of nominations 12 Nov 2018 Monday Last date for withdrawal of candidatures 14 Nov 2018 Wednesday Date of poll 28 Nov 2018 Wednesday Date of counting 11 Dec 2018 Tuesday Date before which the election shall be completed 13 Dec 2018 Thursday

Parties contested

PartyFlagSymbolLeaderSeats contestedBharatiya Janata PartyShivraj Singh Chouhan230Indian National CongressKamal Nath229 Bahujan Samaj Party Mayawati 227 Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav 52 REGISTERED (UNRECOGNISED) PARTIES 1054 INDEPENDENT 1094

Surveys and polls Opinion polls The opinion polls show a tough election battle between the BJP and the INC.

+DatePolling agencyBJPINCOthersLead9 November 2018Timesnow - CNX1229018329 November 2018ABP News- CSDS11610509119 November 2018Cvoter1071160792 November 2018ABP News- C Voter Survey106118061225 October 2018IndiaTV - CNX12885174317 October 2018ABP News- C Voter1081221410 October 2018News Nation1111091029 October 2018Times Now - Chrome DM108103195 9 October 2018Times Now - Warroom Strategies14277116514 August 2018ABP News- C Voter1061177114 April 2018IBC241011191018 Average as on 9 November 20181141061008

Exit polls Most exit polls predicted a "tight finish" between the BJP and the INC. According to the poll of polls, BJP had a small edge over the Congress. However, no party would get a majority. Polling agencyBJP INCOthersLeadCNX– Times Now126891537News 24-Pace Media1031151212News Nation1101071303C Voter – Republic TV1061180612 Jan Ki Baat– Republic TV1181050713 CSDS – ABP News941261032 Axis My India – India Today1111130602VDPA Associates135880747India News- NETA1061121206News 18- Surjit Bhalla130901040Today's Chanakya1031250222Poll of Polls1131080905

Results

Seats and vote-share The election led to a hung assembly, with the INC emerging as the largest party, with 114 seats, but failing to win a majority. The seat and vote share was as follows -: Parties and coalitionsPopular voteSeatsVotes%±ppWon+/− 15,595,696 41.054.76 11456 15,643,623 41.063.89 10956 1,911,6425.011.29 22 496,0251.300.1 11 2,218,2305.820.42 41 5422951.42 Total 38,137,528 100.00 230 ±0Valid votes38,137,52899.86Invalid votes51,7060.14Votes cast / turnout38,189,23475.63Abstentions 12,306,01724.37Registered voters 50,495,251

Region-wise break up +DistrictSeatsBJPINCINDBSPSP Bagelkhand 22 19 3 0 0 0 Bhopal 25 17 7 1 0 0 Bundelkhand 26 14 10 0 1 1 Gird 34 7 26 0 1 0 Mahakoshal 46 17 28 1 0 0 Malwa 50 24 26 0 0 0 Narmadapuram 11 7 4 0 0 0 Nimar 16 4 10 2 0 0 Total 230 109 114 4 2 1

Division-wise results +DistrictSeatsBJPINCINDBSPSP Chambal 13 2 10 0 1 0 Gwalior 21 5 16 0 0 0 Sagar 26 14 10 0 1 1 Rewa 22 19 3 0 0 0 Shahdol 8 5 3 0 0 0 Jabalpur 38 13 24 1 0 0 Narmadapuram 11 7 4 0 0 0 Bhopal 25 17 8 0 0 0 Ujjain 29 16 12 1 0 0 Indore 37 11 24 2 0 0 Total 230 109 114 4 2 1

Constituency-wise results