- Tomar, Prahlad, Kulaste in trouble
- Wave of happiness among workers from second list
Pankaj Pathak, Bhopal
The central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party has released the second list of party candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections-2023, which has created a stir in the politics of the state. This is the first time in the 84-year history of the erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, when the party high command has shown a mirror to its top leaders by bringing them down to earth.
The leaders who were in the ticket distribution committee have themselves been fielded. They were preparing the ground to get tickets for their sons. But their beautiful dream was shattered due to the combination of the party high command i.e. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. We all know that Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 20 years, from where it has been winning four consecutive elections. Political pundits are of the opinion that people are bored and due to this anti-incumbency wind is blowing in the state. While the Congress is overconfident and waiting to get this power on a platter, the BJP is determined to win this election by all means. Many schemes have been announced, many foundation stones and unveilings are being done, many Bhoomi Pujans are taking place. The Chief Minister has used all his strength, anyway he is very adept in the art of turning adverse political situations in his favor.
Got the veteran leaders to give up the politics of convenience and brought them into the electoral struggle – Sensing the situation, the Modi-Shah duo has taken the command of Madhya Pradesh in their hands and started releasing the list of candidates much ahead of time. They made the veteran BJP leaders, who were enjoying power at the Center or the State for 20 years, give up the politics of convenience and brought them into the electoral struggle. The leader who is managing the elections has been thrown into the fray. All these leaders are stunned. They’re saying—we can’t believe it!
These leaders who were defeated in the elections include three Union Ministers, one National General Secretary of the party and four MPs. Among these, the first four leaders are also contenders for the post of Chief Minister. These are Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel, Faggan Singh Kulaste (all three Union Ministers), Kailash Vijayvargiya (National General Secretary of the party). The remaining four are Rakesh Singh, Ganesh Singh, Rao Uday Pratap Singh and Reeti Pathak (all MPs).
Workers are happy with the field of big leaders in the election field – The truth is that BJP is scared, but these two leaders of the high command are alert. One special thing is that the workers are happy with the field of big leaders in the election field. Last time, due to their displeasure, BJP had to face defeat. But now the central leadership is working in a completely different way. In this second list, the party has removed the ticket of sitting MLA Kedarnath Shukla by giving ticket to Reeti Pathak from Sidhi. Prahlad Patel has been fielded from Narsinghpur and the ticket of his brother Jalam Singh Patel has been canceled. Similarly, Narayan Tripathi has not been made the candidate from Maihar. By making Kailash Vijayvargiya a candidate from Indore-1, it has been made clear that now his MLA son Akash Vijayvargiya will not be made a candidate. Narendra Singh Tomar has been declared a candidate from Dimani assembly constituency of Morena, from where he wanted to get the ticket for his son Devendra Pratap Singh. Kulaste has been fielded from Niwas assembly constituency of Mandla district, from where his brother Rampyare has been contesting elections. Obviously now Rampyare will not get a chance. The election of Tomar, Patel and Kulaste will be full of difficulties. They will face a tough challenge from Congress. The place where Tomar has been given the ticket is a Congress stronghold. He will have to take help from Scindia. Kailash is a smart player, he can play in the fort of Congress also!
Mystery persists
A mystery still remains as to what will happen to Chief Minister Shivraj and State BJP President Vishnudutt Sharma? Will Shivraj be contested or not? If BJP wins, will Shivraj take oath as the Chief Minister? Will he go into central politics? Or will he be entrusted with the work of organization? Whatever happens, the high command will definitely use Shivraj in power or organization, because politically he is the most powerful leader of Madhya Pradesh and even Kailash Vijayvargiya is not in competition with him. As far as Vishnudutt is concerned, he is in the race for the post of Chief Minister and wants to contest the assembly elections. A Congress leader says that he will contest elections from Katni, but sources say that he wants to contest elections from Govindpura seat of Bhopal. The decision will be taken by the High Command. Anyway, after the Lok Sabha elections, the charge of State BJP President will be taken back from Vishnudutt.
Modi wants to eliminate nepotism from the party
On September 26, 2023, BJP had released the second list of its candidates, which had 39 names. The first list was released on August 17, which also contained those 39 names. All the seats were lost in the first list. Three seats in the second list have been won, all the rest are defeated seats. A large number of candidates have changed seats on both the lists. Also, where it is considered necessary, former candidates have been given another chance. On September 27, BJP also released the third list, but it contains only one name – Monica Shah Batti, who is the educated daughter of the former MLA late. Manmohan Shah Batti. Shah was the leader of a faction of the fragmented Gondwana Ganatantra Party. Thus far, candidates have been declared for 79 seats and candidates are yet to be declared for 151 assembly constituencies. The election date will be announced by 10-12 October. These remaining seats are held by MLAs who have won from two to eight times. It is clear that the tickets of most of them are going to be canceled and it is also clear that their son or wife will not get these tickets. Modi wants to eliminate nepotism from the party. Their intention behind making big leaders contest elections is that these leaders themselves win and also win seats in their surrounding areas. This is a transitional period for the BJP, so everyone will have to come forward. The middle class is extremely angry with the BJP’s tendency to distribute free schemes and cash. Modi knows that during his Prime Ministership, the Bharatiya Janata Party had lost in the first assembly elections held in Madhya Pradesh in 2018. Now again the situation is the same for the BJP. Therefore, this time Modi is not going to leave any stone unturned.
