Distressed Congress will create hindrance on counting day: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Bhopal: With less than 24 hours to go for the Assembly election results 2018, incumbent Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed that the Congress is creating a hue and cry over EVM malfunctioning since it is distressed about the upcoming results.

Chouhan, seeking a fourth straight term in office, alleged that the Congress will try to create hindrances on the counting day.

"We think as doubts were created about EVMs and even the Election Commission was not spared, they (Congress) will try to create hindrances on every step during the counting," said the veteran BJP leader.

"BJP is going to form government again in Madhya Pradesh. Friends in Congress are talking baseless things out of desperation. 

“Hence, State BJP chief Rakesh Singh has discussed this with district president, district in charges, assembly candidates and MPs," he added.

The 230- member Madhya Pradesh Assembly went to polls on November 28. Voting will be held on December 11.

Earlier in the day, Chouhan held an audio conference with all the 230 party candidates and discussed the preparations for the counting. State BJP president Rakesh Singh also took part in the conference.

Both the leaders told the candidates that the people of Madhya Pradesh have given "huge support" to the party in the elections and the Congress has raised the issue of EVM "tampering" out of desperation, a party spokesman said.

Chouhan and Singh said in 2008 and 2013, exit polls had predicted that the BJP was lagging behind in the race, but the party eventually won on both the occasions, he said.

A control room would be set up on the counting day at the state BJP headquarters, the spokesman added.