VB Election Coverage: Here are all the updates from Madhya Pradesh's Assembly Election 2023
New Delhi: Vote counting for three key states in the heartland and one significant southern state, considered a crucial indicator before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, is set to commence at 8 am. The Mizoram votes, initially scheduled for counting on Sunday, will now take place on Monday following objections raised about the Sunday counting schedule.
The battle for the 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh holds importance as it represents a major prestige showdown between the Congress and the BJP, particularly following the collapse of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in 2020. The Congress had initially secured a narrow victory in the election, but its government could not withstand the defection of Jyotiraditya Scindia to the BJP, along with more than 20 loyalists. Exit polls now suggest that the BJP is poised to maintain its grip on Madhya Pradesh.
Here are all the updates from Madhya Pradesh's vote counting for 2023 Assembly Election:
8:03 PM: "The impact of these results will not be confined to Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. The eco will extend far beyond... eco of these elections will be heard around the world," states PM Modi.
4:30 pm: Madhya Pradesh: On Shajapur clash, Madhya Pradesh Chief Election Officer Anupam Rajan says "In Shajapur, the margin of votes during counting was less...So the process of re-verification of the rejected postal ballots is underway..."
4:00 pm: Congress' performance in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls disappointing: Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge
3:15 pm: MP Election Results 2023: BJP leading in 164 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, Congress ahead in 64 as per trends: Election Commission
1:35 pm: Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar attributes MP's landslide victory to PM Modi
1:00 pm: People have given an answer to Congress: Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan
12:40 pm: Jyotiraditya Scindia says while Congress was buying sweets to celebrate victory in MP, BJP was working tirelessly and hence the results.
12:40 pm: Jyotiraditya Scindia than voters for electing BJP for fifth time to govern the state. Credits BJP workers for party’s victory in MP.
12:25 pm: Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets supporters in Bhopal
12:15 pm: Shivraj Singh Chouhan credits "able leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for MP trends
12:10 pm: Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate says MP results disappointing, unfortunate for Congress. Shrinate further said. "Maybe we underestimated something like 'Ladli Behna scheme' of Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
12:05 pm: MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra trailing from Datia constituency.
12:00 pm: Jaivardhan Singh regains lead on Raghogadh seat.
11:50 am: BJP is set to claim a massive win in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election, trends suggest
11:35 am: Kamal Nath regains lead. Jaivardhan Singh still trailing in MP.
11:20 am: BJP leading on 155 seats, Congress on 72, BSP holding lead on 3 seats.
11:00 am: We will win with a comfortable majority, says Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan.
10:45 am: The difference between the Congress and the BJP is that they play the T20 match, whereas the BJP plays till the last ball, says political analyst Shankar Aiyar
10:30 am: BJP leads on 147, Congress down on lead with 80.
10:15 am: Congress leader Kamal Nath now trailing from Chhindwara constituency.
10:00 am: BJP leading on 128 seats, Congress just short of three-figure mark with lead on 98 seats.
9:45 am: Jyotiraditya Scindia arrives at CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's house for a one-on-one meeting with the latter.
9:30 am: BJP's Narendra Singh Tomar loses lead. Now trailing on Dimani seat.
9:30 am: Digvijaya Singh's son Jaivardhan Singh from Raghogadh constituency.
9:25 am: BJP leading on 122 seats, Congress on 96
9:15 am: BJP gains lead on 101 seats. Congress leading on 83.
9:05 am: Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Kamal Nath both maintain leads on their respective seats.
9:00 am: Close contest continues in MP as BJP leads on 79 seats, Congress follows with lead on 66 seats. BSP maintains lead on 3.
8:50 am: BJP, Congress both cross lead on 50+ seats. BJP leads on 58, Congress on 55.
8:45 am: BSP opens account in MP, gains lead on 3 seats.
8:40 am: BJP's Narendra Singh Tomar gain leads on Dimani seat.
8:35 am: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan leads on Budhni constituency.
8:30 am: BJP extends lead on 24 seats, Congress lead on 17.
8:25 am: On 24 seats, Congress leads on 13, BJP on 11.
8:20 am: Congress maintain lead on 11 seats, BJP on 9.
8:15 am: Early trends show Congress leading on six seats while BJP has gained momentum on four seats.
8:00 am: Counting of votes begin in Madhya Pradesh's 230 constituencies.
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Deep societal faultlines persist despite 75 years of independence: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Judge cites denial of home to Muslim girl, opposition to Dalit women cooking mid-day meals
Hyderabad, February 23, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that despite repeated affirmations of constitutional morality by courts, deep societal faultlines rooted in caste and religious discrimination continue to shape everyday realities in India.
Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional Morality and the Role of District Judiciary” organised by the Telangana Judges Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy in Hyderabad, Justice Bhuyan reflected on the gap between constitutional ideals and social practices.
He cited a recent instance involving his daughter’s friend, a PhD scholar at a private university in Noida, who was denied accommodation in South Delhi after her surname revealed her Muslim identity. According to Justice Bhuyan, the landlady bluntly informed her that no accommodation was available once her religious background became known.
In another example from Odisha, he referred to resistance by some parents to the government’s mid-day meal programme because the food was prepared by Dalit women employed as cooks. He noted that some parents had objected aggressively and refused to allow their children to consume meals cooked by members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Describing these incidents as “the tip of the iceberg,” Justice Bhuyan said they reveal how far society remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality even 75 years into the Republic. He observed that while the Constitution lays down standards of equality and dignity, the morality practised within homes and communities often diverges sharply from those values.
He emphasised that constitutional morality requires governance through the rule of law rather than the rule of popular opinion. Referring to the evolution of the doctrine through judicial decisions, he cited Naz Foundation v Union of India, in which the Delhi High Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding that popular morality cannot restrict fundamental rights under Article 21. Though the judgment was later overturned in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, the Supreme Court ultimately restored and expanded the principle in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, affirming that constitutional morality must prevail over majoritarian views.
“In our constitutional scheme, it is the constitutionality of the issue before the court that is relevant, not the dominant or popular view,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also addressed the functioning of the district judiciary, underlining that trial courts are the first point of contact for most litigants and form the foundation of the justice delivery system. He stressed that due importance must be given to the recording of evidence and adjudication of bail matters.
Highlighting the role of High Courts, he said their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is intended as a shield to correct grave jurisdictional errors, not as a mechanism to substitute the discretion or factual appreciation of trial judges.
He recalled that several distinguished judges, including Justice H R Khanna, Justice A M Ahmadi, and Justice Fathima Beevi, began their careers in the district judiciary.
On representation within the judicial system, Justice Bhuyan noted that Telangana has made significant strides in gender inclusion. Out of a sanctioned strength of 655 judicial officers in the Telangana Judicial Service, 478 are currently serving, of whom 283 are women, exceeding 50 per cent representation. He added that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and persons with disabilities are also represented in the state’s judiciary.
He observed that greater representation of women, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities would help make the judiciary more inclusive and reflective of India’s diversity. “The judiciary must represent all the colours of the rainbow and become a rainbow institution,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to the recent restoration by the Supreme Court of the requirement of a minimum three years of practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial posts. While acknowledging that the requirement ensures practical exposure, he cautioned that its impact on women aspirants, especially those from rural or small-town backgrounds facing social and financial constraints, would need to be carefully observed over time.
Concluding his address, he reiterated that the justice system must strive to bridge the gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities, ensuring that the rule of law remains paramount.
