After Congress emerged as the single largest party in Madhya Pradesh after the assembly elections, three-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday announced his resignation and said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not stake a claim to form the government in the state.
Talking to reporters, he said, "Ab mein mukt hoon, I am free." Taking responsibility for the BJP's defeat in the state, he said that he has already tendered his resignation to the governor.
The Congress emerged as the single largest party in the state by winning 114 seats, two short of a simple majority. BJP, meanwhile, got 109 seats.
However, it edged ahead of the Congress in terms of vote share, bagging 41% of the total votes polled, while the Congress got 40.9%.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have announced their parties will lend support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh.
(With PTI inputs)