Admittedly, it was an unequal battle between the BJP and the Congress from the start. The BJP's vast resources and superior campaigning were no match to Congress's, which is still licking its wounds from its defeat in the assembly polls.

The two phases of the election on April 19 and April 26 for a total of 16 seats dramatically changed the perception. When the campaigning began it was dubbed a one-sided contest, with Congress virtually written off. 

The two phases of the election on April 19 and April 26 for a total of 16 seats dramatically changed the perception. When the campaigning began it was dubbed a one-sided contest, with Congress virtually written off. 

The story of how BJP tried to grapple with a low turnout by engineering a situation where a Congress candidate had to jump ship.

There are a dozen-odd seats where the candidates, rather than the party, are being viewed as potential uplifters of the Congress’s sagging morale.   

For now, Kamal Nath and Nakul Nath are with the Congress. However, the speculations surrounding the nine-time MP from Chhindwara have accentuated the rumours of his vulnerability to joining the BJP in the future, either owing to his ambitions to chart a political course outside the weakening Congress or to safeguard his business interests.

Following the drubbing of the Congress in the assembly elections, the party leadership was quick to show the door to Kamal Nath. While Jitu Patwari (OBC) has been made the party chief, Umang Singhar (tribal) has been appointed as the leader of the opposition.

The choice of the 58-year-old OBC leader by the party leadership has defied all comprehension given that the other claimants for the coveted post have more experience and popularity. Is Yadav's elevation a master stroke as is being described by the media?

Among the PCC president's missteps were marginalising all other state leaders except Digvijaya Singh; competing with the BJP on Hindutva; and rejecting offers of INDIA partners such as Samajwadi Party and Aam Adami Party on seat adjustments.

Although Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath’s strategy to match the BJP in liberally flaunting religious symbolism was frown upon by a section in the Congress, it has proved effective in blunting the opponent's edge on Hindutva.

Tribal votes are also decisive in nearly 40 general seats. There is a perception among tribals that the BJP government's attitude towards them has been condescending while Congress's approach has been that of empowerment.

There has been intense speculation that the BJP might ease out its current chief minister in Madhya Pradesh as a long list of aspirants vie for the coveted post should the party return to power in the state.

In an unprecedented move, the BJP announced seven MPs, including three union ministers – Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste – and a national general secretary as candidates in the assembly election.

The debt burden on the state is Rs 3.5 lakh crore and likely go up further before the notification for the assembly election is issued next month. Both the BJP and Congress, unmindful of state's financial situation, are promising the moon to the voters.

The state BJP has seen a slew of defections in the last few months, with many leaders unhappy with the course the party has taken in the state. The Congress, on the other hand, is looking more united than ever.

What has raised eyebrows is the fact that seven of the 10 toppers in the recruitment examination for Group 2 posts are from a nondescript examination centre in Gwalior.

Forty days after his dramatic defection, Scindia is not yet a Union minister and the fates of his supporters look uncertain.

For 35 years, the activist dedicated his life to building a movement for justice. Unfortunately, Bhopal appears set to forget his contributions.

No country in the world, not even Pakistan, has ever elected to its parliament someone being prosecuted for terrorism. But when Thakur blatantly used religion in her campaign, she also broke the election law.