By-Poll Nomination Process Begins in Vijaypur, Budhni
Both BJP and Congress are yet to name candidates
As per the schedule prescribed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the process of filing nominations for two key by-polls in Madhya Pradesh opened on Friday.
The by-election in the tribal-dominated Vijaypur constituency was necessitated by the resignation of incumbent forest minister Ramnivas Rawat, who was also the sitting Congress MLA from the area. Rawat was forced to resign his membership of the House, following his move to the ruling-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The eelection in Budhni is caused by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s resignation from the state assembly following his victory in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. He now serves as a Union Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.
While Rawat is the likely BJP candidate from Vijaypur Chouhan’s son, Kartikeya, is among BJP ticket hopefuls from Budhni. The ruling-party is yet to make an official announcement of candidates for the two elections which are being viewed as the first real test for Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
The Congress, though vowing to turn the elections into a keen contest in both the constituencies, is still considering nominations for the two polls.
While the Congress has shown some signs of resurgence since a comprehensive drubbing at the hands of the BJP in the 2023 assembly elections, the ruling-party has a definite edge in the two constituencies.
As per the ECI notification, the by-polls will take place on November 13, and results will be declared on November 23.
