The incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) lost three crucial Hindi heartland states of India to rival Congress party. BJP faced a huge anti-incumbency in politically crucial states of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The party had been ruling Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for fifteen years. In Rajasthan it had to battle hugely unpopular mis-governance of Vasudhara Raje Scindia.
BJP was never in the contention in two other states, Telangana and Mizoram that went to polls along with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Telangana voted in favour of incumbent Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Mizoram ousted Congress in favour of Mizo National Front.
These elections were a semi-final before the General Elections of India that is expected to be held in April-May 2019. BJP’s drubbing down at the hands of Congress means Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to face a resurgent opposition that will be led by Congress’ Rahul Gandhi when he faces the electorate in the upcoming General Elections. The win for Congress also sets the electoral momentum in their favour that had to brace a series of electoral losses over the last four years.