Demonstrations And Dissenting Voices Mark BJP’s First List Of Candidates

BHOPAL: Two moves both by the BJP and Congress in Madhya Pradesh have not only surprised the rank and file of the two parties but also general public.

The two moves include one by the ruling BJP. According to this, 39 candidates for such Vidhan Sabha seats which the party lost 2108 have been announced. These candidates will contest from such constituencies where party suffered defeat in the 2018 general elections. The timing of the announcement surprised everybody. Perhaps it is for the first time that candidates have been chosen before three months of the polling.

The other move is by the Congress which has released a charge sheet against the BJP government much ahead of the election dates. Though the BJP thought that the announcement of candidates will be welcomed by the party men but what happened was contrary. Instead of welcome the announcement was marked by resentment from a substantial section of the party. At a time, when surveys predicted heavy anti-incumbency against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, the BJP has fielded its candidates in constituencies it lost in 2018 and has been losing in more than one elections..There have been protest demonstrations by the disgruntled BJP members.

By releasing the list almost three months before the elections, it gave a message that the BJP is going to give a strong fight and is contesting for its fifth term in the state. It will fight for every seat. State BJP leaders explained that with this list, workers will be mobilised and charged. They will get out of their homes and hit the field much before the previous assembly elections. This is being seen as an opportunity with enough time to win some of those seats known as Congress strongholds. Announcement of 13 tribal candidates was also meant to win back tribal voters to the saffron party.

Hours after Rajkumar Karathe resigned from the AAP on Thursday morning, he was fielded as the BJP candidate from Lanji constituency in Balaghat. Supporters of Ramesh Bhatere, former party MLA from the seat, took out a procession with BJP flags on the streets of Lanji shouting slogans against Rajkumar Karathe. “Rajkumar ko jhaadu maro” (beat Rajkumar with a broom)” was their slogan.

“The central leadership should know that they have given a ticket to the man who is even today not a primary member of the party. Till Friday, he was with AAP and was continuously canvassing against the BJP central and state leadership. We demand that this decision be changed”. One of the supporters of Ramesh Bhatere said.

Fielding of former minister Lalita Yadav from Chhatarpur, a seat she won in 2008 by a margin of 7,508 votes and in 2013 by 2,217 votes is also being resisted. When her margin decreased in the constituency, the party shifted her to Bada Malahra constituency in 2018 assembly election which she lost to Congress’ Pradyumn Singh Lodhi (now in BJP) by a margin of 15,779 votes. While Lalita Yadav was shifted to Bada Malahra, seat held by Uma Bharti durng her chief ministerial tenure, BJP fielded two-time Chhatarpur municipality chairperson Archana guddu Singh as its candidate from Chhatarpur. Archana Singh also lost the 2018 election by a margin of 3,496 votes.

The question now being asked is why would the party field Lalita Yadav from Chhatarpur when her winning margin was slim in 2013 and was defeated in Bada Malehra in 2018? In compression Archana Singh’s defeat in Chhatarpur was by a far lesser number of votes. Soon after name of Lality a Yadav was announced, Archana Singh’s supporter took out a protest rally at the Chharasal Chouraha in Chhatarpr. They shouted slogans – “Ticket wapas karo”.

Sources in the party claimed Lalita Yadav’s candidature in Chhatarpur is meant to address the caste equation in the district and adjoining constituencies in the Bundelkhand region with considerable Yadav votes including Khargapur, Niwari, Prithvipur, Deori, Surkhi and other constituencies.

Addressing the caste factor, the party has strategically nominated Pritam Lodhi, who was expelled from the party last year due to his controversial statement against Brahmins.

The Congress appeared very smart when it released the charge sheet against the BJP government. Former chief minister Kamal Nath released the charge sheet alleging corruption against the BJP government. Calling it the Ghotalapatra, Congress in its charge sheet accused thr BJP government of 254 scams during its 18 years’ rule in Madhya Pradesh ranging from an alleged Rs.. 50,000 crore illegal mining scam, Rs. 86,000 crore liquor scam, Rs. 11,000 crore sewerage construction scam to Rs. 94,000 crore electricity scam to Rs. 100 crore Mahakal construction scam.

Congress claimed the allegation is based on documental proof including the government’s reply to questions in the state assembly, CAG reports, documents from the Lokayukyta and the CBI. Congress also accused the BJP government of the Rs. 15,000 crore nutritious meal scam, Rs. 12,000 crore mid-day meal scam, Rs. 9,500 crore aganwadi nal gal (tap water) scam, Rs. 2,000 crore VYAPAM scam and Rs. 800 crore recruitment scam. (IPA Service)