'Sorry' if my words have hurt people: Shivraj Singh Chouhan accepts responsibility for BJP's defeat in MP

Dec 12 (AZINS) Outgoing Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday accepted the responsibility for party's defeat in the state and said he is sorry if his words or actions have hurt people.

Chouhan accepted the 'complete responsibility' of the BJP's defeat in the state polls and tendered his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel earlier in the day.

Clarifying that the BJP will not stake claim to form the government in the state, Chouhan also said that his party will play a role of constructive Opposition. "If the government goes off the track, we will oppose it strongly," he said while addressing to media.

Stating that the BJP fulfilled promises of roti, kapda and makan (food, clothes and shelter)," Chouhan said that he has requested to Congress government to continue with the schemes that the BJP government had launched for betterment and welfare of the people.

Chouhan also said that he is sorry if his words or action has hurt anyone. 

Earlier in the day, he congratulated Kamal Nath (state Congress president) and said that party workers worked hard, people also gave their love to them but they were short of numbers despite getting more votes.

The Congress emerged as the single largest party in the state by winning 114 seats, two short of a simple majority in the 230-member Assembly.

The BJP, which ruled the state for 15 years, got 109 seats. However, it was ahead of the Congress in the vote share by a slender margin, bagging 41 per cent of the votes polled, while the Congress got 40.9 per cent.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) bagged two seats, the Samajwadi Party (SP) got one and independents got four seats.

BSP supremo Mayawati and the Samajwadi Party Wednesday announced their support to the Congress to form government in MP.

Kamal Nath claimed that his party also has the support of all the four independents.