Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018: CM Shivraj, Congress' Kamal Nath offer prayers ahead of polling

Polling began Wednesday morning to elect a 230-member assembly in Madhya Pradesh, where the ruling BJP and opposition Congress are fighting for supremacy.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Kamal Nath offer prayers before voting

New Delhi: Ahead of the crucial assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath offered prayers for a favourable outcome of the polls. The state’s Chief Minister of three times Chouhan, who is now eyeing a fourth term, offered prayers before Narmada River in his constituency Budhni. On the other hand senior Congress leader Kamal Nath also offered prayers at Hanuman temple in his Parliamentary constituency Chhindwara. The Polling began Wednesday morning to elect a 230-member assembly in Madhya Pradesh, where the ruling BJP and opposition Congress are fighting for supremacy. Polling is being held between 8 am and 5 pm on 227 seats, while in three assembly segments - Lanji, Paraswada and Baihar - in the Naxal-affected Balaghat district, voting time is between 7 am to 3 pm. The BJP is eyeing a fourth straight term in office, while the Congress is hoping for a comeback in the state which was once its stronghold.

Congress leader Kamal Nath offers prayers at a Hanuman temple in Chhindwara #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/tjdOwNrwtJ

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan prays on the banks of Narmada river, in Budhni. Voting in the state is underway. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/Hh9hjNds8Y

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018

The battle of ballots in Madhya Pradesh is just months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls slated in the first half of 2019. As many as 2,899 candidates, including 1,094 independents, are in the fray for the 230 seats, but the main contest is between the Congress and BJP - the Big Two of MP politics. The state has 5.04 crore eligible voters.