MP Lok Sabha Election-2024: Indore, often dubbed as the 'Mumbai of Madhya Pradesh' and renowned for being one of the cleanest cities in the country, typically buzzes with activity well into the night. The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place here on 13th May.
However, currently, there seems to be a noticeable lack of fervor surrounding the upcoming elections. The usual vibrant hues of election campaigns are missing, and the once palpable excitement among the populace appears to be subdued.
Just last November, Indore was abuzz with anticipation during the Assembly elections, with election discussions permeating every nook and cranny of the city.
Interestingly, the atmosphere took a sudden shift on 29th April, the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations. A surprising turn of events unfolded as Congress candidate Akshay Kanti Bam abruptly withdrew his nomination, causing a stir in the city. Shortly thereafter, images of him adorned in the Bharatiya Janata Party's gamcha flooded social media platforms.
This seat is occupied by two-time MP Shankar Lalwani, who had also won the last election very easily. And that too by six lakh votes. Therefore, this time too there was no big challenge before him.
Whatever happened was not necessary: Sumitra
Sumitra Mahajan, MP from Indore from 1989 to 2014, has also been the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
She too was 'shocked' by this incident. Speaking to media, she said that whatever happened was "not necessary."
According to her, Indore seat is a traditional seat of BJP and its victory here was also certain.
She said, "Whatever happened should not have happened."
A negative message to the public: Senior BJP leader
Satyanarayan Sattan is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a former MLA. In a statement to the media, he expressed his views on the party's actions, mentioning that BJP believed their strategies would enhance their reputation and electoral prospects by increasing the organization's following. "However, this particular approach may convey a negative message to the public," he said..
Now a total of 13 candidates are left in the fray, most of whom are independent. These include Ajit Singh Pawar, a candidate of 'Socialist Unity Center of India' or 'SUCI'.
He says that a lot of pressure was put on him to withdraw his nomination. He says, "I and my supporters were also threatened. But I stood firm."
Recent political events have not resonated well with voters
Many political analysts believe that recent political events have not resonated well with voters, particularly first-time voters who are feeling disillusioned.
In response to this, the Civil Society of Indore has initiated a significant campaign across the parliamentary constituency advocating for the use of NOTA (None of the Above) option. This campaign stands as the largest pro-NOTA initiative in the region to date. Members of the opposition alliance 'INDIA' are actively participating in this movement.
Separate campaigns for NOTA are being led by both the alliance members and civil society groups. The engagement of the city's intellectuals, including social workers, doctors, engineers, and lawyers, further highlights the breadth of support for this cause.
Processions in support of NOTA are being organized on the streets, with campaigns also being promoted on auto rickshaws throughout the city.
Some campaigners allege that when they go to campaign in favor of NOTA, they are being stopped. When they take out processions in favor of NOTA, the administration does not allow them. They say NOTA has shown its impact so much in the recently concluded assembly elections when the victory and defeat of the candidates were decided because of NOTA.
According to some analysts, in the direction politics is going, a large section of voters in the society are going towards NOTA. That's because people are now getting disappointed with the candidates contesting the elections.
People are now getting bored: First time voter
A college student who will cast his vote for the first time said the way people are coming into politics and the way tickets are being distributed, people are now getting bored with the process. For this, not only NOTA, now we should also push for the right to recall our representatives in the society.
'INDIA Alliance should have supported SUCI candidate'
However, Communist Party of India and SUCI say that instead of NOTA, Congress and INDIA Alliance parties should have supported their candidate.
They say that if all these parties had given their support to SUCI candidate Ajit Singh Pawar, then he would have got full support from the common people of Indore.
Dr. Sunilam supporting Ajit Singh
Dr. Sunilam is also a former MLA from Multai, Madhya Pradesh and is known as a socialist leader. He is supporting Ajit Singh and is also campaigning in his favor in Indore.
He says that earlier the nomination of Samajwadi Party candidate from Khajuraho seat was canceled and the election became one-sided.
He says, "In Surat, most of the nominations were withdrawn and the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate was also given the victory certificate. These are dangerous signs for democracy which speak volumes about the coming days."
He says, "If there is no rival or opposition in a democracy, then what would be the meaning of it? Politics without opposition is not the model of Indian democracy. It could be of Russia, China and North Korea."
Cong is responsible for whatever happened: BJP
However, defending his party's decision, state BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi while talking to the media said that the Congress party itself is responsible for whatever happened.
He says that big leaders of the party were not available for campaigning, hence a feeling of insecurity had started developing among many candidates.
He said, "Congress's intentions and policies are responsible for all this. Congress is making fun of democracy by promoting NOTA, while apart from the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, 13 other candidates are also contesting for the Indore Lok Sabha seat. Yes. This is an insult to them."
However, defending his party's decision, state BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi while talking to the media said that the Congress party itself is responsible for whatever happened.
He says that big leaders of the party were not available for campaigning, hence a feeling of insecurity had started developing among many candidates.
He said, "Congress's intentions and policies are responsible for all this. Congress is making fun of democracy by promoting NOTA, while apart from the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, 13 other candidates are also contesting for the Indore Lok Sabha seat. This is an insult to them."
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