Madhya Pradesh Election Results: Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s ‘Pink’ Schemes Cut No Ice With Women Voters

Bhopal: The Congress is leading in Shahpura, Barghat, Petlawad, Sailana, Pansemal, Bichhiya, Niwas — all of these seats were won by BJP MLAs in last elections. Interestingly, Niwas is a bellwether seat.

According to the data available as per early trends in the state, of the 10 seats where women comprehensively voted more than their male counterparts, the Congress is leading on seven, BJP on one and Independents on two.

The anger against inflated gas cylinder prices — selling at over Rs 1,000 per cylinder — seems to have cost the BJP dearly. BJP 'mama' Shivraj Singh Chouhan's women-friendly image doesn't seem to have cut ice with the female voters. Instead, it seems to have undone any benefits of PM's Ujjwala Yojana.

According to the data provided by the Election Commission, the participation of women voters in this election rose by 3.75%. This number will seem noteworthy keeping two facts about MP in mind. First, there are over 50 seats in which more women have voted than men. In several constituencies, the rise in percentage terms of female voters is between 10 and 12%. In 116 constituencies, the average rise in female voter turnout is over 4%.

In the last big elections that the state saw, the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 2% more women voted for the Congress than they did for the BJP.

To seek votes from women, Chouhan had earlier in August this year through a mass public outreach – SMS, WhatsApp and phone calls – reached out to more than 5 lakh women seeking their blessings on Rakshabandhan and seeking their votes.