Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018 | CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in panic after exit polls, discusses options with party leaders in case BJP does not get 116 number: Sources

While Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke confidently on Saturday about his party BJP's victory in the state assembly polls which took place on November 28, sources have said that the leader is rattled after the release of the exit poll figures. He is now in a panic mode as he had hoped to get majority victory but the exit polls indicate a neck to neck fight between Congress and his party, sources said.

The CM had held two emergency meetings on December 8 after the release of the exit polls numbers.  The first meeting happened at the BJP office at 6:45 pm. The CM was supposed to get the feedback from party workers and leaders about the work on the ground for the elections and their own survey on the assembly seats.

READ: Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018: No Cong Sweep, No BJP Rout Say Pollsters As Madhya Pradesh Goes Down To The Wire

Sources said that he was also supposed to personally speak to each of the 230 BJP candidates from MP.

The second meeting took place at 7:30 pm at the CM's house. Chouhan was supposed to have a discussion with the core committee on the party's performance in the polls after getting the data from all the seats. 

READ: Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018 | CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Calls For Two Emergency Meetings After Exit Polls: Sources

Post the first meeting, sources said that CM assured his party workers about BJP's victory, "Please note that BJP is winning with a huge margin. We have done all calculations and also exit polls are saying that there is nothing against the government. The Congress is terrified. This is not anti-incumbency but pro-incumbency. We will make the govt for the 4th time. We are confident. We will talk to all the candidates. We are not afraid," he said.

On Sunday, he briefed the media saying, "Amit Shahji spoke to us and told us that be patient and observe everything... we are not in pressure... we are happy and stable."

In the core committee meet held on Saturday at the CM's house, the BJP leaders discussed options in case they do not meet the magic figure of winning 116 seats, said sources.  BJP state president Rakesh Singh, BJP National VP Prabhat Jha, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, MP BJP in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe were present for the meeting.

READ: Madhya Pradesh Elections 2018: No Cong Sweep, No BJP Rout Say Pollsters As Madhya Pradesh Goes Down To The Wire

They also discussed the party's plan post the announcement of the poll's result.