MP, Aug 16 (Agencies) : In what is being seen as a big relief for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has registered a massive victory in the state civic polls defeating the Congress. All 16 municipal corporations in the state are now ruled by the BJP.

BJP registered victories in Morena, Ujjain, Harda, Chakghat in Rewa district, Bhainsdehi in Betul district, Kotar in Satna, Suwasara in Mandsaur and Vidisha municipal bodies, voting for which took place on August 12.
A Congress and an independent candidate were elected as president of municipalities in Sarangpur in Rajgarh district and Guhwara in Chhattarpur district respectively.

The civic polls had become a prestige issue for both CM Chouhan and the BJP amid the Vyapam Scam controversy. The importance of the win can be understood from the fact that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a 2-day tour of UAE, and Chouhan took to Twitter to congratulate the party workers.

"MP civic poll results are gladdening. I thank people of MP for reposing their trust in BJP. I salute efforts of Karyakartas and party leaders," PM's tweet stated.

"People have given fitting reply to negative forces, bent upon tarnishing the image of MP. Election results again underlines faith in Govt. Election results have also sent strong message to those indulging in politics of character assassination. People have rejected them again," Shivraj Chouhan tweeted.

Congress and other Opposition parties have been demanding Shivraj Chouhan's resignation over the Vyapam Scam, which allegedly also involves top political leaders, ministers and bureaucrats of the state. The just concluded 4-week long Monsoon Session of Parliament was also virtually washed out because of the controversy.

The BJP had registered a massive win in the state Assembly polls in 2013 giving Chouhan a third consecutive term. The party also won 27 seats out 29 in 2014 Lok Sabha election.