Politics
BJP flags. (Representative image).
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scripted history with a 9-0 victory against Congress in Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital Indore.
From seasoned BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya to the fresh face Rakesh Golu Shukla, both ministers Tulsi Silawat and Usha Thakur to Ramesh Mendola - who registered victory with highest number of votes in the state - all emerged victorious.
Indore, the largest district in MP in terms of electoral seats, had previously seen all its seats won by the BJP in 1993, a remarkable achievement that was replicated three decades later on Sunday (3 December).
Back in 1993, Indore district comprised eight constituencies.
That year, BJP's candidates - Lalchand Murlidhar Mittal (Indore-1), Kailash Vijayvargiya (Indore-2), Gopi Krishna Nema (Indore-3), Laxman Singh Gaud (Indore-4), Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Indore-5), Prakash Sonkar (Sanwer), Nirbhay Singh Patel (Depalpur), and Bherulal Patidar (Mhow) - all emerged victorious.
However, following the delimitation in 2008, the Rau constituency was formed, incorporating parts of Mhow and Indore-5.
Besides, Golu Shukla, a first-time candidate who was initially not seen as likely to win, defied expectations by defeating Deepak Pintu Joshi in Indore-3.
Meanwhile, Malini Laxman Singh Gaud clinched victory from Indore-4, a seat the saffron party has consistently held since 1990, and Mahendra Hardia secured his fifth win from Indore-5.
In Sanwer, Tulsi Silawat won, leveraging government schemes and support from high-profile rallies.
Manoj Patel claimed victory in Depalpur, enhancing his image through direct engagement with the public and community support.
Usha Thakur succeeded in Mhow, capitalising on the presence of a Congress rebel and support from BJP's higher echelons.
In Rau, Madhu Verma secured the seat, defeating Congress leader Jeetu Patwari by over 35,000 votes.