Assembly elections 2023 are set to start from November 7 with voting in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. Throughout the month of November, elections will be held across five states of the country, which include Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan. Results for all the five states will be declared on December 3.
This is the biggest electoral battle between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the grand opposition alliance, Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), since the formation of the latter. Intense campaigning in the poll bound states has taken place, with parties trading blows over claims and criticisms on economic development during the last five years.
Outlook Business has compiled the performance of poll-bound states in terms of gross state domestic product (GSDP) growth, unemployment rate, debt-to-GSDP ratio and inflation trajectory.
How the state's economy progressed? Whether the state was able to control inflation? Did unemployment go down? These are some of the most pertinent questions raised during elections. With the Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticising the "revadi" offered by opposition parties, the debt-to-GSDP number provides an insight into a state's financial health.
Here is how the economies of poll-bound states performed in the last five years:
Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023
Chief Minister Zoramthanga is looking to win a second consecutive term against the newly formed Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), Congress and BJP. Although a part of NDA alliance, the relationship between BJP and Mizoram National Front (MNF) has worsened. MNF had backed the no-confidence motion introduced by INDIA. BJP has also fielded 21 candidates in the northeastern state.
Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel had won a thumping majority in the last election to dethrone BJP's incumbent Raman Singh in last election. The incumbent CM has come under fire for his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting scam. ED claimed CM Baghel received over Rs 500 crore from the promoters of the app. The statement stirred a political storm, with BJP accusing the state government of corruption.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in the state once again needs to counter anti-incumbency which had pushed it to second place in last election. While Congress formed the government initially, BJP was able to return to power in 2020 after Jyotiraditya Scindia led a rebellion against CM Kamal Nath government. In his recent campiagn speech, PM Narendra Modi said that Congress is looking to use the state as ATM ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023
CM Ashok Gehlot's term in the office was marked by infighting amongst Congress party ranks after Sachin Pilot-led a rebellion. Pilot had took out an anti-corruption yatra to protest Gehlot government's alleged inaction against corruption during previous BJP government. BJP has targeted the Congress party over the infighting, saying that the divisions of ruling party has hampered the development of the state.
Telangana Assembly Elections 2023
Telangana is set to hold the third election since the formation of the state back in 2014. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by K Chandrashekar Rao, has ruled the state since its formation. CM KCR will be hoping for a third consecutive tenure against Congress and BJP, who won just 1 seat in the last election. Notably, BRS has not joined the opposition alliance INDIA.
