The ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh seems to have decided to utilize its best resources in the upcoming assembly polls that most opinion polls have predicted to be a close contest.
The party has fielded heavyweights including three union ministers and four members of parliament in the assembly polls arena, the second candidates’ list of the party released on Monday night shows.
Among union ministers includes Narendra Singh Tomar, who has been fielded from Dimni in Morena currently held by Ravindra Singh Tomar of Congress. Narendra Singh is also the chairman of the campaign committee of the Madhya Pradesh BJP and his candidature in assembly polls has given rise to strong speculations that he might be a strong contender for chief minister’s post if BJP wins the polls.
Dimni is among the seats from where Congress MLA (Girraj Dandotia) had jumped ship to BJP along with union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in 2020. Dandotia was made a minister but lost the polls.
The other union ministers who are in fray include Prahlad Singh Patel from Narsinghpur, a seat currently held by the minister’s own brother Jalam Singh Patel of BJP and Faggan Singh Kuleste from Niwas seat in Mandla district. This seat has a popular Congress MLA in Dr. Ashok Marskolhe.
The other surprise heavyweight in the list is the national general secretary of the party Kailash Vijayvargiya – who has been given a ticket from Indore-1 – the constituency of Congress heavyweight MLA Sanjay Shukla. Vijayvargiya’s son Akash is the current MLA from Indore-3.
The second list, which comes five weeks after the first list of August 17 and right after the address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state party workers on Monday, includes candidates for 39 seats. The August 17 list also had 39 candidates.
The four members of parliament who have been asked to fight assembly polls include Rakesh Singh from Jabalpur West, Ganesh Singh from Satna, Riti Pathak from Sidhi and Rao Uday Pratap Singh from Gadarwara seat.
By fielding Riti Pathak, the BJP has denied ticket to the sitting MLA Kedarnath Shukla who got involved in a major controversy that has become infamous as Sidhi urination case. A BJP leader, who was earlier a representative of Shukla, had urinated on a tribal man. A viral video of the incident had taken the country by storm and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had to wash the feet of the tribal man at the CM House for atonement.
Another expected exclusion was MLA Narayan Tripathi from Maihar (Satna district) who kept creating controversy by supporting the Congress off and on. Recently, he had announced the formation of a new party with demand of a separate Vindhya state, but did not formally resign from BJP. He also made news when his supporters put up posters expressing gratitude to both CM Chouhan and Congress chief Kamal Nath after a district status was announced for Maihar.
Interestingly, the BJP has decided to give a ticket from Dabra seat in Gwalior to staunch Scindia supporter Imarti Devi again, though she lost the 2020 by-polls to Congress candidate Suresh Raje. Devi is said to be at loggerheads with state home minister Narottam Mishra.
The party has fielded Chhindwara district president Vivek Bunty Sahu from the Chhindwara seat currently held by MP Congress chief Kamal Nath. Young Sahu was also pitted against veteran Nath in 2019 by-polls when Nath was CM.
Modi ji has cleared way for Chouhan’s departure: Congress
The Congress has taken a jibe at the second list composition of BJP. Media advisor to Congress, Piyush Babele said on social media platform X: “The second list of BJP has made it clear that (PM Narendra) Modi ji has approved the departure of (CM) Shivraj (Singh Chouhan) ji even before the assembly elections. Madhya Pradesh BJP has accepted defeat in the elections and Delhi BJP is entering the field for fire fighting. Three rivals of Shivraj ji have been fielded by giving assembly tickets - union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. Along with marginalizing Shivraj ji, BJP is also finding a way to shelve the rampant announcements made by him around the world.”
In another post he said, “Today's candidate list of Bharatiya Janata Party has put a full stop to the political career of both Shivraj (Singh Chouhan) and Maharaj (Jyotiraditya Scindia). Also, the path of political exile has been paved for (state BJP president) V.D. Sharma and (home minister) Narottam Mishra.