Madhya Pradesh gears up for Loksabha elections amidst political fervor

By Varsha Sharma

Indore : As the political landscape in Madhya Pradesh undergoes a significant shift, the state is bracing itself for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. With the democratic exercise poised to shape the future trajectory of the state’s representation in the parliament, political parties have intensified their campaigns, vying for the electorate’s mandate.

The battleground is set across the 29 parliamentary constituencies of Madhya Pradesh, each witnessing a flurry of activity as candidates from various political parties canvass for support. The state’s political spectrum, traditionally dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), is witnessing new entrants and alliances, adding layers of complexity to the electoral contest.In the initial two lists released by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Lok Sabha elections, out of 267 candidates featured, 63 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) have been substituted with fresh candidates.
In the initial list unveiled on March 2, 33 MPs such as Pragya Thakur, Ramesh Bidhuri, and Meenakshi Lekhi were substituted with new candidates among the 195 nominees. In the subsequent list of 72 names released on March 13, 30 MPs, including Union minister Darshana Jardosh and former ministers Sadananda Gowda and Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, were replaced.
In the last election, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who lost to BJP candidate KP Yadav from Guna, joined the BJP in 2020. This time, instead of KP Yadav, the party has fielded him. In Rewa, Congress candidate Siddharth Tiwari ‘Raj’ contested against BJP’s Janardan Mishra. Siddharth is the grandson of former Vidhan Sabha Speaker Shrinivas Tiwari and the son of former MP Sundar Lal Tiwari.

He was with the Congress until just before the assembly elections. He then joined the BJP, contested and won the elections. Now, despite past animosity, they are both admirers of each other. Similarly, Mona Sustani, who lost to BJP’s Rodmal Nagar in Rajgarh, has joined the BJP in March 2023. Nagar is again contesting against her. In this situation, Sustani will also campaign against Nagar.

In the MP Lok Sabha Elections, four candidates competed against each other last time. This time, they’ll join hands to win.

In the Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha Election 2024, the candidates who contested last time from Indore, Sidharth Tiwari from Rewa, Mona Sustani from Rajgarh, and Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna are all standing together again. This includes the Guna, Rewa, Indore, and Rajgarh Lok Sabha seats.
Whether you call it political necessity or strategy, politicians sometimes fight each other fiercely, and other times, they collaborate closely. This scenario is often observed during elections. The same was witnessed in the 2019 elections and will likely be seen again in this Lok Sabha election. Last time, BJP and Congress candidates directly competed on four of the state’s 29 seats. This time, they’re together. These include the Guna, Rewa, Indore, and Rajgarh Lok Sabha seats.

A similar situation is in Indore, where Pankaj Sanghvi, who was a Congress candidate, recently joined the BJP. From here, the BJP has fielded Shankar Lalwani. In 2019, Lalwani defeated Sanghvi by over 5.47 lakh votes.

This discussion mainly revolves around the BJP and Congress. However, there are candidates from other parties like BSP, SP, and the Gondwana National Congress who contested last time and are now split between BJP and Congress. In Chhindwara, after Congress and BJP, the daughter of the National President of the Gondwana National Congress, Monika Bhutti, who was placed third last time, joined the BJP before the assembly elections.

Except for Guna, BJP won by more than three lakh votes on these four seats. Parties consider these seats highly secure for them, but with last time’s opponents joining forces, the party has strengthened.

Commotion in Congress after Assembly Elections

Before the assembly elections, a large number of BJP leaders joined Congress, and many from Congress moved to BJP. After the major defeat in the assembly elections, a significant number of Congress leaders have now joined BJP before the Lok Sabha elections. This includes Pankaj Sanghvi, former MP Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi, and several former MLAs. The trend of Congress leaders joining BJP continues.

Key issues such as agrarian distress, unemployment, infrastructure development, and healthcare are dominating the discourse, reflecting the aspirations and concerns of the electorate. With Madhya Pradesh being an agrarian state, the plight of farmers and rural communities holds significant sway over voter sentiments.

Moreover, the impact of recent political developments, including defections and realignments, is expected to reverberate through the electoral landscape, potentially reshaping the dynamics of power in the state. Both national and regional parties are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters, employing various strategies ranging from grassroots mobilization to high-profile rallies and social media campaigns.

The Election Commission of India has deployed robust security measures to ensure the smooth conduct of elections, with a focus on maintaining law and order and facilitating free and fair polling. Additionally, strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols remains paramount to safeguard public health amidst the ongoing pandemic.

As polling day draws nearer, the political fervor in Madhya Pradesh reaches a crescendo, with anticipation running high among citizens eager to exercise their democratic right and shape the future course of governance. The outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh is poised to not only determine the state’s representation in the parliament but also offer insights into the prevailing political currents and trends shaping the nation’s political landscape.