Shah focuses on checking infight, anti-incumbency

BHOPAL: Union home minister Amit Shah visited Madhya Pradesh thrice in the span of 20 days in July as part of attempts to blunt anti-incumbency and end infighting within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) months before the state is due to go to polls

- Ranjan

Except for 15 months between December 2018 and March 2020, the BJP has been in power in the state since 2003.

Polls in five states, including Madhya Pradesh, accounting for roughly 15% of India's population are expected to set the tone for the 2024 national elections.

The Congress returned to power in Madhya Pradesh in 2018 but its government fell in March 2020 when 22 legislators quit the party and resigned from the state assembly. In May, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Congress would form the next governmen in the state and win 150 of 230 seats.