Rajasthan Election Result 2023 Highlights: BJP scoops Rajasthan, wins 115, Congress finishes with 69

Eight independent candidates, including four BJP rebels, have won in the Rajasthan assembly elections. Among them is Chandrabhan Aakya who was replaced by the BJP with a relative of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in Chittorgarh but contested on his own.

Aakya, the sitting MLA from Chittorgarh, defeated his closest rival Congress' Surendra Singh with a margin of 6823 votes. BJP's Narpat Singh Rajvi, a five-time MLA, secured the third position.

In the recently-concluded Assembly elections in Rajasthan, 20 out of the 50 women candidates secured victories. However, their representation in the House has decreased compared to former Congress-led Assembly.

Among the winning women candidates, nine belonged to the BJP, nine to the Congress, and two were Independent candidates.

BJP's victory in Rajasthan is both spectacular and in line with past trends. The BJP gained several Congress seats this time. Let's take a look at the state's Assembly map.

Rajasthan BJP chief C P Joshi on Sunday attributed party's staggering victory in Assembly polls to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "guarantees".

“The landslide victory of BJP in the three Hindi speaking states of the country, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, is the effect of PM Modi's guarantees. These guarantees of PM Modi deflated the Congress,” Joshi told reporters at a press conference in Jaipur.

The BJP returned to power in Rajasthan on Sunday, winning 115 seats out of the 199 where assembly elections were held last week.

The Congress, which was hoping to buck the trend of the incumbent being voted out in the state every five years, bagged 68 seats. The final result of only one seat was awaited and the Congress was leading by a narrow margin there.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared some suggestions for the Congress party after BJP's thumping victory in three states. "It is my suggestion to Congress and its allies to stop doing politics that strengthen anti-national elements and ideas to weaken the country," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that after BJP's victory in three states every poor, every deprived person is feeling that he was won.

"Today every poor is saying that he himself has won. Every deprived person has a feeling in his mind that he has won the election. Every farmer says that he has won this election. Today, every tribal brother and sister is happy thinking that the victory he has turned away is his own. Every first-time voter is saying with great pride that my first vote has become the reason for my victory," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that during the recently concluded Assembly elections, Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, Kisaan aur Gareeb Parivaar were important for him. He also said that BJP's win in three states was a win for the poor, underprivileged, farmers, first-time voters and women.

"In this election, there were efforts to divide the country based on castes. I kept saying that for me, four castes are important - Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti, Kisaan aur Gareeb Parivaar," PM Modi said at BJP office in Delhi.

In the Rajasthan elections, four out of the seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs who contested emerged victorious, securing seats in the state assembly, while three others lost the polls.

The winning MPs include Diya Kumari from Vidhyadhar Nagar, Rajyavardhan Rathore from Jhotwara, Baba Balak Nath from Tijara, and Kirodi Lal Meena from Sawai Madhopur.

The three BJP MPs who lost the assembly polls included Narendra Kumar (Mandawa seat), Bhagirath Choudhary (Kishangarh) and Devji Patel (Sanchore).

After conceding defeat to the BJP, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok on Sunday evening went to Raj Bhavan and tendered his resignation to Governor Kalraj Mishra.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crossed the halfway mark in Rajasthan. As per the latest updates from the Election Commission website, the BJP secured victory in 100 out of the 199 contested seats and maintained a lead in 15 more.

Meanwhile, the Congress, aspiring to break the pattern of alternate government in the state, secured 58 seats and was leading in 11 others.

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) heading for a massive win in Rajasthan, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said that the new Chief Minister of the state would be decided with the guidance of the BJP's central leadership.

"It would happen very soon and smoothly with the guidance of the BJP's central leadership and in consultation with its newly-elected MLAs," he told reporters in Delhi.

Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan assembly and BJP candidate Satish Poonia lost the Amber seat to the Congress' Prashant Sharma by a margin of 9,092 votes on Sunday, Election Commission said on Sunday.

As per EC website, Sharma secured 1,08,914 votes, while Poonia got 99,822 votes.

Several ministers, including Disaster Management Minister Govind Ram Meghwal, in the Ashok Gehlot government lost assembly elections in Rajasthan. Govind Meghwal, who was also the Congress' campaign committee chief, was defeated by BJP's Vishwanath Meghwal on Khajuwala seat.

The other Congress ministers who lost the elections included Bhanwar Singh Bhati from Kolayat seat, Shakuntala Rawat (Bansur), Vishvendra Singh (Deeg Kumher), Ramesh Chand Meena (Sapotara), Shale Mohammad (Pokaran), and Udailal Anjana (Nimbahera).

Also, some ministers, including BD Kalla (Bikaner West), Zahida Khan (Kaman), Bhajan Lal Jatav (Weir), Mamta Bhupesh (Sikrai), Parsadi Lal Meena (Lalsot), Sukhram Vishnoi (Sanchore), Ramlal Jat (Mandal), and Pramod Jain Bhaya (Anta) are trailing in the elections.

(With inputs from PTI.)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Assembly election results have proved that the days of appeasement and caste politics are over and that 'new India' votes on politics of performance.

"There is only one person in the hearts of the people, that is Modi. Today's election results have proved that the days of appeasement and caste politics are over. New India votes on Politics of Performance. I salute the people of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan for this immense support. Many congratulations to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji on this grand victory of BJP," Shah wrote.

BJP leader Rajendra Rathore, while speaking to reporters in Jaipur, called the party's win in Rajasthan a referendum on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"We have received the mandate in Rajasthan. It was confirmed that the bad governance of Congress was going to end. The policies of PM Modi have been approved in all three states. This is a referendum on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi's government will be formed once again with a huge majority in the Lok Sabha elections. The new government would be formed in Rajasthan in a few days," he said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that he would analyse party's poor performance in the Assembly elections.

"We did not leave any stone unturned and were fully prepared for the elections. We thought people would vote for us based on our current schemes but that did not happen. We will analyse this. I thought people would take revenge from PM Modi and HM Amit Shah but I think the public could not understand this," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday conceded party's defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan and two other states in the Assembly elections.

"We accept the mandate of the people of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan with utmost humility - the struggle for the ideology will continue. I am very grateful to the people of Telangana - we will definitely fulfill the promise of creating a prosperous Telangana. Heartfelt thanks to all the workers for their hard work and support," the Congress leader tweeted in Hindi

Following are the list of Congress ministers who have lost in Rajasthan so far:

• Khajuwala - Govind Ram Meghwal
• Koliyat - Bhawar Singh Bhati
• Sapotra - Ramesh Meena
• Lalsot - Prasadi Lal Meena
• Deeg-Kumher - Vishwendra Singh
• Civil Lines - Pratap Singh Khachariyawas
• Sikarai - Mamta Bhupesh
• Banasur - Shakuntala Rawat
• Kotputli - Rajendra Yadav
• Koliyat - Bhanwar Singh Bhati
• Bikaner West - Bulaki Das Kalla
• Anta - Pramod Jain Bhaiya

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the party's performance in the assembly polls in Rajasthan and other two states was disappointing and added it would overcome the "temporary setbacks" and prepare fully for the Lok Sabha elections along with INDIA bloc partners.

"I thank the people of Telangana for the mandate we have received from them. I also thank all those who voted for us in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Our performance in these three states have no doubt been disappointing, but with determination, we reaffirm our strong resolve to rebuild and revive ourselves in these three states," he said in a post on X.

Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas lost Civil Lines assembly seat to BJP candidate Gopal Sharma by a margin of 28,329 votes, according to the Election Commission. Sharma, a veteran journalist, secured 98,661 votes while Khachariyawas got 70,332 votes, the EC website showed.

BJP candidate and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won the Jhotwara assembly seat in Rajasthan by a margin of 50,167 votes, the Election Commission of India announced on Sunday. The 53-year-old former Union minister secured 1,47,913 votes and defeated his nearest rival Abhishek Choudhary of the Congress.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Baba Balaknath won the Tijara seat from margin of 6,173 votes, the Election Commission said on Sunday. Balaknath defeated Congress's Imran Khan.

Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra on Sunday said that the party respects the people's mandate and would continue to work for them. "I am informing all elected legislators. On Tuesday, we would convene a meeting of legislators in Jaipur," Dotasra told reporters as rival BJP was headed for a win in Rajasthan. "We respect the people's mandate and will continue to work for the people," he said

Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday conceded defeat and called it to be an "unexpected outcome" for everyone. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Ashok Gehlot said, ""We humbly accept the mandate given by the people of Rajasthan. It is an unexpected outcome for everyone. This defeat indicates that we have not been entirely successful in reaching our plans, laws, and innovations to the public. I extend my best wishes to the new government. My advice to them is that despite not being successful in the elections, it does not mean they should not work after coming to power. Enhance all the schemes and the pace of development that we have provided to Rajasthan in these five years, including OPS and Chiranjivi. I thank all Congress workers who worked hard in this election, and express gratitude to all voters who trusted us".

Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot won the Tonk Assembly seat by a margin of around 30,000 votes, the Election Commission of India announced on Sunday. After his win, Pilot took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and thanked the people in Tonk constituency for making him win the Assembly election.

"Once again, the voters of my constituency have blessed me, and a significant victory for the Congress has been achieved from here. I dedicate this victory to the people and workers of the Tonk Assembly. Heartfelt thanks for your support and cooperation. With the support of all of you, the pace of development in Tonk will continue unabated. Gratitude to the entire population of Tonk," Sachin Pilot tweeted.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and candidate from Vidhyadhar Nagar, Diya Kumari won by a margin of 71,368 votes, garnering a total of 1,58,516 votes. A member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, Diya Kumari defeated Congress's Sitaram Agarwal.

Diya Kumari is also seen as an option to be the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan, along with senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje.

Vasundhara Raje, the two-time Chief Minister, credited PM Modi for BJP's massive comeback in Rajasthan.. "Apart from PM Modi, credit goes to Amit Shah, JP Nadda, and the people of Rajasthan," she said.

Raje has bagged the Jhalrapatan Assembly seat by defeating Congress's Ramlal by a margin of 53,193 votes.

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker and Congress leader CP Joshi has lost Nathwada constituency to BJP's Vishvaraj Singh Mewar by a margin of 7,504 votes.

Conceding his defeat, CP Joshi, who is currently the incumbent MLA of Nathdwara, congratulated Vishvaraj Singh Mewar and said, "I hope that in the coming five years, he will continue the pace of development that has been going on in the last five years".

Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot wins the Tonk constituency by more than 25,000 votes. Meanwhile, Chief Minister and Pilot's colleague Ashok Gehlot wins Sardarpura seat by 26,396 votes, according to the latest figures by the Election Commission of India.

Bharat Adivasi Party (BHRTADVSIP) has emerged victorious in one constituency in Rajasthan as the counting of votes in the state is underway. The party is, meanwhile, leading in two constituencies.

According to the Election Commission, the BJP has so far won 11 seats and is leading in 103. The Congress, meanwhile, has won only one seat and is ahead in 68 seats.

BJP leader Diya Kumari wins the Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency by a 71,368 votes. She is one of the chief ministerial faces in Rajasthan. Talking to ANI, she credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda for the win. "Modi ji's magic worked in Rajasthan and also Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh... The top leadership of the party will decide who will be the Chief Minister," she added.

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje and former Rajasthan Chief Minister wins in Jhalrapatan constituency by defeating Congress's Ramlal by a whooping 53,193 votes.

BJP's Vasundhara Raje is leading by 52,496 votes in Jhalrapatan constituency. Meanwhile, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Sachin Pilot is ahead in Tonk by 18,565 votes.

BJP took to X to congratulate former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for leading by more than 51,000 votes in Jhalrapatan constituency.

BJP's Diya Kumari is leading by a whooping 42,594 votes in Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency. She was spotted visiting a temple in Jaipur this morning. Kumari is one of the probable chief ministerial faces in Rajasthan.

According to the Election Commission of India, as of 12 pm, the BJP is leading in 111 seats - ahead of the 72 constituencies where the ruling Congress is ahead.

Congress observers for Rajasthan, BS Hooda, Mukul Wasnik and Shakil Khan have arrived in Jaipur.

According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP is leading in Rajasthan's Dausa, Bandikui, Mahua, Sikrai and Lalsot assembly constituencies.

Sachin Pilot, who appeared to be trailing in Rajasthan's Tonk assembly seat after counting of votes first began, is now leading in the seat owwith over 3,000 votes, leaving BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta behind.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said on Sunday that there will be a "change" and the party will emerge victorious in the state. His remarks came after the BJP crossed the halfway mark in Rajasthan, and is en route to dethrone the ruling grand old party. "There will be a change and Congress will win the elections...," he told ANI.

BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is trailing in Jhotwara constituency by 8,775 votes as of 10:50 am, according to early trends.

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is leading in Jhalrapatan constituency, and so is her party colleague Satish Poonia from the Amber constituency.

BJP workers began celebrations outside the party's office in Jaipur as the party crossed the halfway mark and is leading in over 100 constituencies as opposed to the ruling Congress's 78. The workers were seen beating drums and dancing.

BJP's Rajasthan President CP Joshi said that his party's lead in the election results will "keep growing". Early trends showed BJP ahead in Rajasthan by leading in 105 seats while the Congress is ahead in 78 seats. " We will win over 135 seats," Joshi told ANI.

Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is trailing in Tonk constituency as per early trends.

Rajasthan BJP MP and candidate from Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency, Diya Kumari offered prayers at the Govind Devji Temple in Jaipur on Sunday as the counting of votes began. Early trends show neck-and-neck battle between the BJP and Congress in the state.

Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot is leading from Sardarpur constituency, and so is his former deputy Sachin Pilot from Tonk.

On Sunday, Gehlot told ANI that he spoke to the Congress candidates, who will go to the counting centres. "We came to the war room and spoke to the candidates. They will go to the counting centres... I spoke to them, and they are excited and confident about winning. We will win and make a government with a clear majority," he added.

According to early trends, the BJP is leading in Rajasthan with 35 seats while the Congress is far behind. BJP leader and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is leading from Jhalrapatanm and her colleague Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is leading from Jhotwara constituency.

The counting of votes has begun in Rajasthan. The postal ballots will be counted first, following by the votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

On the preceding night of today's blockbuster election results in Rajasthan, hectic meetings happened in BJP's Vasundhara Raje camp. The meetings went on till as late as 3 am, sources told India Today. BJP candidates, who are Raje loyalists, are expected to start arriving at her residence starting 8 am today.

(Reported by Dev Ankur)

Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress veteran Siddaramaiah said that his party has "a chance of 50-50" in Rajasthan in today's counting of votes. "Our MLAs will not fall into the trap of Operation Kamal," he told India Today.

Siddaramaiah, however, said that as per his information, the grand old party will win in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana. "We have faith that we will win," he added.

(Reported by Anagha)

BPJ leader Satish Punia told India Today that his party will get "125-150 seats" in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly. "Exit polls are saying what they are saying, but it will be the exit of the Congress party this time. The majority with very good numbers will be the result," he added.

(Reported by Aishwarya Paliwal)

According to official sources, all winning candidates of Congress have been asked to reach Jaipur by 12 pm tomorrow. The decision was made following an interaction between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with the candidates on Saturday.

(Reported by Kaushlendra Singh)

Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta reviewed the preparations for the counting process via a video conference with all District Election Officers on Saturday evening. He said that counting of postal ballots would be counted first, and then half an hour later, the votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would begin. He further said that the counting of votes would begin at the scheduled time of 8 am.

The Election Commission (EC) will begin the counting of votes at 8 am today.

A neck-to-neck battle is likely to happen between the Congress and the BJP in Rajasthan, the India Today-My Axis India exit poll said. As per the exit poll, the Congress has a slight edge over the BJP as the grand old party is predicted to get 86-106 seats. The saffron party, on the other hand, is projected to win 80-100 seats. Other parties may end up with 9-18 seats and they could be crucial in case a split verdict emerges.