BJP leads on 17 seats, Cong on 9, BSP on 1 in MP Assembly by-polls

Bhopal: The result of the Madhya Pradesh bypolls will be announced on Tuesday. The counting of votes has begun across 28 assembly seats in 19 districts of the state. The results will decide the fate of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and will also hint at the effect the Jyotiraditya Scindia factor in the political scenario. It is also crucial for former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who lost power in the state seven months ago after Scindia quit the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP, with 107 MLAs in MP assembly with an effective strength of 229, needs to win at least eight of these 28 seats to retain power in Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Congress has 87 legislators in the House.

12:30 pm: BJP leading on 19 seats, Congress gains lead at one more seats (Total 8).

12:10 pm: BJP is currently leading on 20 seats, BSP on 1 seat and Congress on 7 seats

11:48 am: BJP is leading on 17 seats, BSP on 2 and Congress on 9 seats -- as per the latest update by the Election Commission.

11:30 am: Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra told news agency ANI: "The BJP has nothing to lose. Those who are losing ask them. We'll only gain. I heard Digvijaya Singh's statement. If he's questioning EVM, it means the BJP is winning. We're getting majority and the two elderlies [Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath] are going to Delhi."