"This is the personal defeat of Chouhan and his entire Cabinet. For almost a week, the Chief Minister, his Cabinet, MLAs, BJP and the government machinery were deployed and crores (of rupees) were spent, but they failed to influence people of the constituency," said former Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh.
BJP's Nirmala Bhuria lost in the prestigious bypoll held on November 21 to former Union minister and Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria, by a margin of 88,832 votes.
"BJP won on a sympathy wave and despite that its victory margin was reduced to over 30,000 from 2013 election in which it had won the seat with a gap of over 55,000 votes," he said.
BJP's Gayatri Raje Puar, wife of erstwhile royal late Tukoji Rao Puar, defeated Congress's Jai Prakash Shastri by a margin of 30,778 votes. Tukoji Puar's death necessitated the election.
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Congress Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, Jyotiraditya Scindia thanked people of Jhabua and congratulated Kantilal Bhuria for the victory.
Meanwhile, Chouhan has accepted the defeat and also congratulated Bhuria.
"We are determined for the development of Ratlam-Jhabua area and will do everything to fulfill the dreams of the tribal brothers and sisters.
"We accept the mandate given by the people in Ratlam- Jhabua seat with all humility and honour it," Chouhan said in a tweet.
He also congratulated Gayatri Raje Puar, saying the victory belongs to her, BJP leaders and workers who had done hard work.