The political scene in Madhya Pradesh is heating up as two crucial assembly by-elections, in Vijaypur and Budhni, loom large. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress are gearing up for a fierce contest. However, at this early stage, the BJP has already secured a psychological advantage over the Congress by finalizing key candidates, while Congress is still grappling with uncertainty.
BJP's Swift Candidate Selection Process
The BJP has made significant strides by streamlining its candidate selection process, especially in Vijaypur and Budhni. Last Sunday, the state BJP convened a meeting of its election management committee to shortlist candidates, subsequently sending the final list to the central election committee.
For Vijaypur, the party's decision was straightforward—Ramniwas Rawat was the sole candidate. Rawat, a former Congress member who defected to the BJP before the last Lok Sabha elections, had resigned from the Legislative Assembly, making a by-election in Vijaypur inevitable. The clarity surrounding his candidacy has given the BJP a strong footing in this constituency.
In contrast, the Budhni seat posed more challenges for the BJP. This constituency, traditionally the home turf of current Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, became vacant when Shivraj resigned after winning the Vidisha parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha elections. The key issue for the BJP was deciding on a suitable candidate for this prestigious seat. However, the BJP, known for its robust organizational machinery, has nearly resolved this dilemma.
Initially, three names were considered for Budhni, but the panel expanded to five candidates: Ramakant Bhargava, Guruprasad Sharma, Rajendra Singh Rajput, Kartikeya Singh Chouhan (son of Shivraj Singh Chouhan), and Budhni BJP Mandal President Asharam Yadav. Raghunath Bhati is also under consideration. This abundance of contenders reflects the party's strong internal competition, but it has also brought a degree of clarity to their electoral strategy.
Congress Still in Limbo
Meanwhile, the Congress party is yet to solidify its plans for the by-elections, trailing behind the BJP in candidate selection. As is often the case, Congress seems to be lagging in its decision-making process. In both Vijaypur and Budhni, the party is still conducting on-the-ground investigations and deliberations, hoping to field candidates who can offer a tough challenge to the BJP.
In Budhni, former District President Mahesh Rajput is emerging as a strong contender for the Congress ticket, though nothing has been confirmed yet. In Vijaypur, the situation is even more uncertain. While the BJP has already locked in Ramniwas Rawat as its candidate, the Congress is reportedly considering fielding a tribal candidate, though no names have been officially floated.
As the by-elections approach, the BJP has clearly gained the upper hand by swiftly moving ahead with its candidate selection in the crucial seats of Vijaypur and Budhni. With Ramniwas Rawat firmly in place in Vijaypur, and the Budhni ticket likely going to one of the five shortlisted names, the party is poised to take on the Congress. In contrast, Congress is still searching for viable candidates and seems to be trailing in the race.
Ultimately, the final call on Budhni will be made by the BJP’s central leadership, and all eyes will be on whether Kartikeya Singh Chouhan is given the nod to contest. Congress, on the other hand, must act swiftly if it hopes to mount a serious challenge in either constituency.
(Prakash Kumar Pandey)