#ElectionsWithHT: Key dates, numbers, faces as Madhya Pradesh goes to vote

It is the litmus test for 15 years of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh. India’s largest state by geography is set for a keen contest between the BJP and the Congress come November 28. It’s the day when 5.04 crore voters of Madhya Pradesh will exercise their franchise. Anti-incumbency is expected to be a factor after three consecutive terms of Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Yet, there are other factors to consider when the electorate in all 230 constituencies of Madhya Pradesh goes to vote. For starters, anti-incumbency did not hurt the BJP last time round. In fact, BJP swept to power in 2013, winning 165 seats in the 230-member assembly. The saffron party increased its vote share by nearly 7 percent – from 38% in 2008 to almost 45% in 2013. The number of seats for Congress however dipped from 2008 to 2013. In 2008, Congress had cornered 71 seats in the MP Assembly. But the number was down to 58 seats in the 2013. This time round, a hopeful Congress is seeking to tap into the alleged ‘anger of voters’ against the incumbent government. The party hopes to make a comeback in a state where it has been occupying the opposition benches for the last 15 years. But improved power supply, better roads and different social welfare schemes may just work in incumbent Chouhan’s favour once again.Watch the full video for the poll arithmetic, key issues, main contenders and everything else you need to know about Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018