The most interesting fact regarding these eight seats is that the BJP has replaced it’s six sitting MPs by new candidates. The constituencies where sitting MPs have been replaced include Indore. Indore is the constituency which was regarded as stronghold of Sumitra Mahajan. Mahajan, who is Lok Sabha Speaker was denied ticket. It took several months to persuade her to withdraw from the contest. The leadership of the BJP was keen to give the impression that Mahajan herself was not keen for another term. Finally the BJP decided to sponsor Shankar Lalwani. Lalwani, a Sindhi was a little known face in Indore. He is being opposed by Pankaj Singhvi, a businessman, who has fought earlier and lost to Mahajan.

In the neighbouring Dewas both BJP and Congress have chosen non-politicians to contest Lok Sabha elections. The BJP persuaded Mahendra Solanki to quit his judicial job and accept the BJP offer to enter politics. The Congress has sponsored Padmashri Kabir folk singer Prahlad Tapania to contest the poll. Both belong to same caste which constitutes substantial part of the electorate. When asked some voters said that they are not interested to know who is the BJP candidate because our votes are earmarked for Modi who has given so much to the poor.

In Ujjain, a reserved constituency the BJP also dropped the sitting MP and has replaced him by a less known party worker. Congress has nominated Babulal Malviya, who is regarded as close associate of Digvijaya Singh. Ujjain is a strong hold of the BJP which is confident of victory.

Ratlam, which is also a reserved constituency is being represented by Kantilal Bhuria, former Congress Minister. In 2014 BJP won this seat but in the by poll held after the demise of Dilip Bhuria, Kantilal Bhuria annexed the seat from the BJP. Bhuria is confident of his victory.

Among the 8 seats which go to poll on May 19 great focus is on Mandsaur because of two factors. First, because Congress candidate Meenakshi Natragan, is regarded a member of Rahul Gandhi’s kitchen cabinet and second because Mandsaur witnessed violent Kisan stir in which six persons died in firing. Natarajan has served one term in Lok Sabha but lost in 2014. She is being opposed by the sitting MP Sudhir Gupta.

Khandwa is another interesting constituency. Here former presidents of BJP and Congress are opposing each other. They are sitting BJP MP Nandkumar Chouhan and Arun Yadav of the Congress. Both are old rivals. Yadav was elected in 2009 and Chouhan’s worry is his rival in the party Archana Chitnis, who was Minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet. Chitnis feels that her defeat in last November Vidhan Sabha elections was due to sabotage by Nandkumar Chouhan. There is every possibility that she will avenge her defeat.

Dhar is yet another constituency where the BJP denied ticket to sitting MP. Here the BJP has decided to sponsor Chhatar Singh Darbar, a former party MP. Here a section of local Congressmen did not like the official candidate setup by the party. In this seat an Adivasi organisation JAYAS commands great influence. The Congress is hopeful that Dr. Alawa a leader of this organisation will lend his support to the Congress candidate.

Khargone is another tribal seat which will go to poll on May 19. Here also the BJP denied ticket to the sitting MP Subhash Patel. Here the BJP candidate is being opposed by Dr. Govind Mujalda. It is claimed that Dr. Govind enjoys popularity in the constituency. Therefore Congress victory from this seat is not ruled out.
(IPA Service)