By-polls for Vijaypur, Budhni on November 13
Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has a definite edge over Congress
Bhopal
By-elections for the crucial Vijaypur and Budhni seats have been scheduled for November 13, announced the Election Commission on Tuesday.
While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh is decided on its candidate from Vijaypur, the names of five ticket hopefuls from the Budhni constituency have been forwarded to the party central leadership in New Delhi.
The BJP nominee from the Vijaypur seat will be state Forest Minister Ramniwas Rawat.
Rawat joined the BJP soon after he emerged victorious from the Vijaypur seat in the 2023 assembly elections. He has since been rewarded with a ministerial berth in the Mohan Yadav cabinet.
Rawat is now seeking reelection in the by-poll which has been necessitated by his own resignation from the state assembly to facilitate his switch to the saffron fold.
Though the Congress is promising to turn the Vijaypur election into a contest, the politically astute say that the BJP has a definite edge.
The Budhni by-election has been necessitated by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s resignation from the state assembly after he registered a massive victory from the nearby Vidisha parliamentary segment in the 2024 general elections.
Budhni is Chouhan’s home turf as the BJP stalwart spent his early days in the area which encompasses his own village, Jait.
Through his long chief ministerial stint, Chouhan had brought huge changes to the once impoverished region. Irrigation facilities have improved tremendously and so has commercial activity.
Chouhan’s son, Kartikeya, is among the BJP ticket hopefuls. Detractors say that the party leadership may not accomodate the request, but those who know Chouhan have not yet given up hope on his rustic charm that is known to have moved mountains.
Four other BJP leaders are in the reckoning for a party nomination.
Staying true to its tradition, the Congress party is yet to spell out plans for the upcoming polls, and the grand old party, in all likelihood, will continue to hold its cards to the chest till the last moment.
Ruling parties always have an edge in assembly by-elections and there is no reason to believe that the BJP will be in any kind of trouble on November 13.
