Rahul Gandhi to have final say in who would be CMs in MP, Rajasthan

Rahul Gandhi has been tasked with choosing the CMs of Rajasthan and MP by the Congress party.

After a long drawn out counting battle on Tuesday, the Congress made inroads into Madhya Pradesh, the heartland of India, winning 114 out of 230 seats. Congress also secured big wins in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and is set to form the governments in the two states. The party, however, lost its last Northeast bastion in Mizoram after winning just five seats. The Mizo National Front (MNF) captured the power in the Northeast state, winning in 26 of the 40 assembly constituencies. K Chandrashekhar Rao-led TRS swept the Telangana polls, decimating the Prajakutami – the grand alliance of Congress, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) – on its way.

Here are the highlights from the Assembly Election Results and developments related to government formation on Wednesday:

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# Congress' Randeep Surjewala says his party believes in knowing the view of every legislator before announcing the name of a CM.

Randeep Surjewala: After consulting everybody we'll give a CM candidate&a govt that truly reflects will of people of these 3 states.We'll start process of loan waiver, process of creating new employment opportunities&reconstruction of these states in accordance with people's will pic.twitter.com/r6Gty3Vo64 — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018

# Here's what Sachin Pilot said about the procedure being followed to decide on Rajasthan CM:

Sachin Pilot: It's a normal procedure for Congress party legislators to give their feedback to observers. Observers give feedback to Congress President&then a final decision is taken. We've authorised Congress Pres to take a final view as to who will head CLP leaders of the party pic.twitter.com/LxczPr3bdB — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018

# In Telangana,  KCR will be sworn in as CM at 1330hrs on Thursday.

# Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and senior leaders arrive at Rajasthan Governor's house in Jaipur.

# Five-member Congress delegation - including Kamal Nath and Scindia, meet MP Governor Anandiben Patel to stake claim to form government.

# "All the MLAs have unanimously decided that a decision on the Chief Minister (of Madhya Pradesh) will be taken by Rahul Gandhi ji," says Shobha Oza.

# Rahul Gandhi had said that he will change the CM if the loans are not waiuved off within 10 days, it's time to see that now: Shivraj

# I also hope the Congress government fulfils the promises that it made in the manifesto like waiving off farmer loans within 10 days of coming to power: Shivraj 

# I called up Kamal Nath ji and wished him for the victory. I only wish and pray that the new government continues the welfare schemes that we started. With the change of the government, the welfare projects should not change. I hope the new government will strive to complete the projects we started: Shivraj 

# It is a fact that we could not get the majority or even get the expected numbers. I take full responsibility for the loss. I must have been at fault due to which the BJP lost in the state: Shivraj

# I apologise to the people of the state if I hurt them in any way, says ShivRaj Singh Chouhan

# BJP accepts defeat in Madhya Pradesh, says will work for the development of the state "Though the margin has not been much, but we have lost the election. We accept the verdict and assure the people of the state that we will work for the development of the state," the BJP said in MP.

# "We have met Governor and staked claim to form Govt, we have the support of 122 MLAs, the situation is clear Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018,' says Congress leader Narendra Saluja after meeting MP Governor.

# Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tenders his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel earlier on Wednesday.

Bhopal: Shivraj Singh Chouhan tenders his resignation to the Governor Anandiben Patel, earlier today #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/3MKTBDqc21 — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018

# Kamal Nath reaches Raj Bhawan to meet state governor Anandiben Patel.

# "Congress has played an important role in giving alternative to BJP. Congress was receptive towards other small parties. BSP and SP should be a part of our alliance. They aren't yet together with us. People have expressed displeasure on 4.5 years of BJP rule," Sharad Pawar, NCP.

# Samajwadi Party will support Congress in forming the government in Madhya Pradesh, tweeted party supremo Akhilesh.

समाजवादी पार्टी मध्य प्रदेश में सरकार बनाने के लिए कांग्रेस का समर्थन करती हैं।

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 12, 2018

#"Ab mein mukt hoon, I am free. I have tendered my resignation to the honourable Governor. The responsibility of defeat is totally mine. I have congratulated Kamal Nath ji," said Chouhan after resigning. 

#Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan to resigns, says BJP does not have the numbers to form government. 

# Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will support the Congress in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, announced party supremo Mayawati to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party at bay in upcoming. “With a heavy heart, the public chose Congress in three states. Chhattisgarh, MP, and Rajasthan didn't give another chance to BJP,”  said Mayawati while reacting to the Assembly poll verdict on Wednesday. 

#Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo and state caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will swear-in as the Chief Minister of Telangana on Thursday. The party swept the Telangana Assembly elections 2018, bagging 88 out of the 119 Assembly seats.

#On Wednesday morning, Congress emerged as the single largest party in the state, winning 114 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 109 seats, Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won two seats and Samajwadi Party (SP) won one seat. Independent candidates have won four.

#In midnight drama, the Congress party wrote to the Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel,  staking claim to form the government in the state. However, the governor turned down the approach, stating that appointments would be given only after the final official result is declared by the Election Commission.