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Assembly Election Results 2018 LIVE: KCR Takes Oath As Telangana Chief Minister

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha says 'Modi magic theory' destroyed; Meanwhile Congress mulls over chief ministers.
K Chandrashekhar Rao in a file photo.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
K Chandrashekhar Rao in a file photo.

1:30 pm: K Chandrashekhar Rao Takes Oath As Telangana CM

1:00 pm: KCR To Take Oath Soon, During 'Muhurtam' Decided By Pandits

K Chandrashekhara Rao will take oath as the chief minister of Telangana today, and if reports are to be believed, he is taking oath during a 'muhurtam' or an auspicious times set by vedic religious leaders.

Hindustan Times reported that Rao is to take oath exactly at 1.25 pm. The report says the times was fixed by Vedic pundits from Lord Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple at Yadagiri in Bhongir district.

10:27 am: Modi Magic Theory Destroyed, Says BJP Leader Yashwant Sinha

After BJP's rout from the three states of the Hindi heartland, Yashwant Sinha a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that these elections had destroyed the 'Modi magic theory'.

Sinha also hoped that Opposition parties would now form an alliance for 2019. PTI quoted Sinha as saying, "A national-level pre-poll alliance of all opposition parties, including the Congress, should be formed to put up a one-to-one fight against the saffron party and stop division in anti-BJP votes.

"If the first option does not succeed, there should be a nationwide pre-poll alliance of regional parties with possible adjustment with the Congress, where ever that is possible," he said.

KOLKATA, INDIA - MARCH 3: BJP leader and Former Union Finance Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha is addressing on 'Union Budget 2015-16' during an incisive analysis organised by MCCI (Merchant Chamber Of Commerce & Industry) at a city hotel on March 3, 2015 in Kolkata India. (Photo by Subhendu Ghosh/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
KOLKATA, INDIA - MARCH 3: BJP leader and Former Union Finance Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha is addressing on 'Union Budget 2015-16' during an incisive analysis organised by MCCI (Merchant Chamber Of Commerce & Industry) at a city hotel on March 3, 2015 in Kolkata India. (Photo by Subhendu Ghosh/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

10:15 am:Kamal Nath Worried About MP's Fiscal Health

In an interview with The Indian Express, Congress leader Kamal Nath, who is also reportedly top choice for chief minister in Madhya Pradesh, said that there had been a big drain on resources in the state and that he was worried about the fiscal health of the state.

He told the newspaper, "I am worried about the fiscal health of Madhya Pradesh and we will have to do some innovative out-of-the box thinking on how resources can be raised for the state."

He also said that BJP's money power and organisational might helped them to win many votes despite not coming to power.

10:05 am: Madhya Pradesh Congress To Hold Meeting At 4 PM Today

Amid much speculation of who will become the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, reports say the Congress party will hold a meeting of its MLAs at 4 pm on Thursday.

While Kamal Nath is the frontrunner, a confirmed decision is likely to be announced today.

Congress won 114 seats in the state against BJP's 109 seats. They have found allies in BSP which one 2 seats and Samajwadi Party which won 1 seat.

9:00 am: Decision On Madhya Pradesh, Rajastha, Chhattisgarh CMs Today

The decision on chief ministers of the three states will come likely today with Kamal Nath likely to become chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.

Reports says that Rahul Gandhi used a "democratic" and hi-tech method to choose his chief ministers.

An audio voice message from Gandhi was sent to Congress party workers across the three states and they were asked to respond with their choice of chief ministers.

The report said that the party workers were promised confidentiality.

Speaking to the media yesterday, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had said, "Congress believes in the democratic process of knowing the view point of each elected legislator. After consulting everybody, we'll give a CM candidate and a government that truly reflects will of people of these three states."

8:45 am: KCR To Take Oath Today

In Telangana, where the TRS won a thumping majority, party leader KCR will take oath as the chief minister today.

He will take oath at the Raj Bhavan at 1:30 pm.

*** End of updates for 12 December ***

8:35 pm: Deliberations On Chief Ministers Still On, Chhattisgarh And Rajasthan Leaders To Meet Rahul Gandhi On Thursday.

Meanwhile, deliberations on the chief ministerial candidates of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh continued in the respective states.

Reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi is likely to decide on the chief ministers on Thursday.

In Rajasthan the main contenders for the post are Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot, in Madhya Pradesh it likely to be a choice between Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath.

Mallikarjun Kharge, observer for Chhattisgarh, arrived in Raipur for the party meeting. Reports say party leaders from the state will meet Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

Even MLAs from Rajasthan are likely to meet Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

8:25 pm: We Put Up A Good Fight Under PM Modi's Leadership, Says Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday that BJP put up a good fight in all the states because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

4:17 pm: Congress Legislature Begins In Bhopal, To Decide Who Will Be CM

4:12 pm: We Have A Strong Opposition Of 109 MLAs, Says Shivraj Chouhan

2:45 pm: In Rajasthan, Congress Delegation To Meet Kalyan Singh At 7 pm

A Congress delegation will meet Governor Kalyan Singh at 7 pm Wednesday to stake claim on government in Rajasthan.

The governor has given an appointment to a Congress delegation at 7 pm today, Raj Bhawan sources said.

(PTI)

2:18 pm: Is Modi Mulling Farmer Loan Waivers To Woo Voters In 2019?

A Reuters report says that after the BJP drubbing in the elections in the five states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, Modi may mulling an announcement on loan waivers for farmers to woo voters for the 2019 general elections.

The report quoted government sources as saying that to claw back support among India's 263 million farmers and their many millions of dependents, Modi's administration would soon start working out the details of a plan allocating money to write off farm loans.

Read more here.

2:15 pm: Rajasthan Congress Passes Resolution Asking Rahul Gandhi To Pick New CM

As Sachin Pilot had said earlier in the day, the Congress in its Legislative Party meeting passed a resolution asking party president Rahul Gandhi to choose a chief minister in the state, PTI reported.

There has been much speculation about the chief ministerial candidate in Rajasthan. The choices are between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. While Gehlot has been the chief minister of Rajasthan before, Pilot is the young face of the party.

1:35 pm: Congress To Form Government In Madhya Pradesh, Celebrations In Bhopal

Congress party workers celebrated on the streets of Bhopal as party leaders met the Madhya Pradesh governor to stake claim for government.

With the support of MLAs from BSP and SP the Congress will form government in the state.

1:24 pm: KCR To Meet Telangana Governor To Stake Claim To Form Government

In Telangana, K Chandrashekhar Rao will also meet the governor to stake claim to form the government. The Congress and the BJP were both decimated in the southern state with TRS winning a thumping majority.

TRS wom 88 seats, Congress 19 and BJP only 1.

Hindustan Times via Getty Images

1:05 pm: Congress Victory Over BJP's Negative Politics, Says Sonia Gandhi

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday described the party's good show in the assembly poll in three Hindi heartland states as a victory over the BJP's "negative politics". Gandhi's reaction came after the Congress ousted BJP governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Expressing happiness over the outcome of the polls, the UPA chairperson said it was a "Congress victory over the BJP's negative politics".

12:53 pm: We Have Support Of 122 MLAs, Says MP Congress After Meeting Governor

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh the Congress said that they have support of 122 MLAs. Party leader Narendra Saluja told ANI that they have met Governor Anandiben Patel and that "everything was clear".

12:35 pm: Final Decision On Rahul Gandhi, Says Sachin Pilot On Next Rajasthan CM

In Rajasthan, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that the party leaders will decide on the chief minister of the state after a meeting and that the final decision rested on Rahul Gandhi.

Pilot made the comments before the Congress Legislative Party meeting. NDTV also reported Pilot as saying that party leaders will meet Governor Kalyan Singh after a second meeting in the evening.

12:30 pm: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tenders Resgination

11:55 pm: Responsibility Of Defeat Totally Mine, Says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Outgoing Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conceded defeat on Wednesday saying "ab mein mukt hoon". He said he took full responsibility of the defeat.

Meanwhile, Kamal Nath is going to meet Chouhan at 1 pm which will be followed by a meeting of the Congress party at 4 pm, said Congress leader Shoba Oza to ANI.

10:50 pm: Mayawati Offers Support To Congress In Madhya Pradesh

BSP chief Mayawati said on Wednesday morning that even though she did not agree with Congress party's policies, she was going to offer support to them in Madhya Pradesh to form government.

BSP won two seats and Congress won 114. Together they cross the half-way mark in MP to form government.

Akhilesh Yadav said Samajwadi Party also offered support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. Samajwadi Party won 1 seat.

10:05 am: Independent In Rajasthan Wants Ashok Gehlot As CM

9:33 am: Celebrations At Congress HQ

9:30 am: Congress Single Largest Party With 114 Seats In Madhya Pradesh, Will Form Govt In Chhattisgarh

After a nail-biting counting day on Tuesday, the Congress emerged as the single largest party in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday winning 114 seats. The BJP won 109 seats and the BSP 4 seats. Independents won 4 seats.

In light of Congress not winning a clear majority the smaller parties and independents are likely to play kingmaker in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress has already sought appointment with governor Anandiben Patel to stake claim to form government in the state. The party, in a letter to Patel, claimed that they have the numbers to form government.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has won from his traditional Budhni seat by a margin of 58,999 votes, defeating former Union minister and senior Congress leader Arun Yadav.

Counting for the election, held on November 28, began at 8 am Tuesday.

Meanwhile in Chhattisgarh the Congress has gotten clear majority winning 67 seats, in the 90-member Assembly, while the BJP has won 15 seats and the BSP has won 2 seats.

After it became clear that the Congress was heading for a massive victory, Chief Minister Raman Singh submitted his resignation to the governor.

Singh told reporters Tuesday that he accepted the responsibility for the loss, refusing to pass the buck to the BJP's national leadership.

"The election was solely contested on a state agenda and it was not related to Delhi. We will sit with the party workers and analyse the defeat in detail.

"This will not reflect on the 2019 Lok Sabha election," he said.

In Rajasthan the Congress has won 99 seats, BJP has won 73 seats, BSP 6 seats and CPI-M 2 seats.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday in a press conference that he was proud of the work done by the party workers.

He said, "I would like to thank BJP for the work they have done in these states. We would like to take over and do a great job."

He said, "The youth, the farmer supported us."

Speaking of jobs, he said, "The promise of jobs made by Modi to the youth was not fulfilled. There is also sense of discontent among farmers and that has had a big impact. We will like to work towards giving a vision and give a future. There is a feeling that what was promised by Mr Modi was not delivered."

He also said the Assembly election results were a clear message to the prime minister. "The prime minister is paralysed. He is clearly unable to take the pressure from the Opposition."

Gandhi also said, "As soon as Congress forms government, we will begin the process of loan waivers."

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.