Indian opposition Congress party forms government in three new states

Indian National Congress wrested three states from the country's main ruling Bharatiya Janata Party

NEW DELHI: The number of states ruled by India's main opposition party the Indian National Congress (INC) increased to five on Monday after its three new chief ministers (heads of state governments) took oath of office.

Ashok Gehlot became the chief minister of the western state of Rajasthan, Kamal Nath assumed the charge of the central state of Madhya Pradesh, while Bhupesh Baghel took oath of office in the central state of Chhattisgarh. The INC won in the recently-concluded state polls.



Two other INC-ruled states are Punjab in the north and Puducherry in the south. Besides, the party is an ally of a state-level party in southern Karnataka.

The INC wrested all the three states — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh from the country's main ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is now left with governments in 10 states. The BJP is an alliance partner in a few other states, including Maharashtra and Bihar.