In Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, both the big parties BJP and Congress have a main headache to take care - the rebellions. Nandram Kushwaha, who holds the rank of minister in the state government, is contesting as an independent candidate in Niwari this time. At the same time, many leaders including Aamir Akil, Jitendra Daga, Kamleshwar Devalia, KK Srivastava, Kamlesh Aggarwal, Shailendra Chaudhary, Jaikant Singh, Rajendra Singh Solanki, Kaushalya Gotiya are angry over not getting ticket from the Congress. At the same time, the high command is worried about the entry of these leaders who dominate the area. Following which, senior leaders have been entrusted with the responsibility to convince the disgruntled ones.
The damage-controllers
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, BJP State President VD Sharma, Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel, Kailash Vijayvargiya, State Organization General Secretary Hitanand Sharma are talking to the leaders who are angry over not getting tickets in BJP. Apart from these, Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnav, National Co-Organisation General Secretary Shiv Prakash are also engaged in convincing. At the same time, state Congress President Kamal Nath, former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh and state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala are busy in talking to the leaders who have rebelled against the Congress.
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Who rebelled in BJP and where?
Burhanpur assembly seat
Harshvardhan, son of former MP and BJP state president late Nandkumar Singh Chauhan, is contesting this seat as an independent candidate. After the death of Khandwa MP Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan one and a half years ago, son Harsh Vardhan was a contender for the ticket in the Lok Sabha by-election, but BJP had fielded Dnyaneshwar Patil. This time in the assembly elections the party gave ticket to former minister Archana Chitnis. Harsh Vardhan had also asked for a ticket from Burhanpur. Angered at not getting the ticket, Harsh Vardhan is contesting the elections as an independent candidate. Many leaders including Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan are asking him not to contest the elections, yet he has not withdrawn his nomination.
Niwari assembly seat
Nandram Kushwaha, who contested from Prithvipur seat on BSP ticket in the last 2018 assembly elections, joined BJP during the 2021 assembly by-elections. Nandram was claiming ticket from BJP in Niwari assembly in this election. Here the party has made two-time MLA Anil Jain its candidate. Now Minister of State Nandram Kushwaha is contesting as an independent candidate from Niwari seat. Many BJP leaders have explained this to Nandram, but he is not ready to accept it. Former district president of BJP Kamleshwar Devalia is also contesting as an independent candidate from this seat. Devalia is an old leader of BJP. In such a situation, his candidature is creating problems for BJP candidate Anil Jain.
Tikamgarh assembly seat
KK Srivastava has also become a rebel from here. He has been MLA and Municipal President from 2013 to 2018. Last time BJP canceled his ticket and gave it to Rakesh Giri. He was elected MLA. This time again KK Srivastava was contesting from here, while BJP has fielded Rakesh Giri. In such a situation, KK Srivastava is contesting the elections as an independent. KK has resigned from BJP. BJP leaders are trying to convince them, but they are not ready to back down.
Jabalpur North-Central seat
From here, senior BJP leader and municipal corporation leader of opposition Kamlesh Aggarwal rebelled against the party. He will contest the election as an independent candidate. Kamlesh Aggarwal has filed the nomination form from North Central Assembly. He alleges that the elections are being contested by bringing in outside candidates, due to which the local workers are hurt. Also tried to convince Kamlesh Aggarwal, but he did not agree. Now a triangular contest can be seen here. BJP has fielded Abhilash Pandey while Congress has fielded Vinay Saxena.
Who rebelled in Congress and where?
Bhopal North Assembly
Aamir, brother of 6-time Congress MLA Arif Akil, has filed nomination as an independent candidate on this seat. Aamir was asking for a ticket on his elder brother's seat. However, Congress has fielded Arif Akil's son Atif. Angered by this, Aamir is contesting the elections as an independent candidate. Arif Akil and many Congress leaders have explained this to Aamir, but he is not ready to accept it. Digvijay Singh has called Aamir, but now Aamir says that the party has given its decision. Now my decision is not going to change.
Huzoor assembly seat of Bhopal
Former MLA Jitendra Daga is contesting as an independent candidate from here. Daga was seeking ticket from Congress. The party declared Naresh Gyanchandani, who had lost the last election, as its candidate. Since then he had announced to contest the elections as an independent candidate. Congress leaders tried to persuade. He made it clear that he would not back down.
Gotegaon seat of Narsinghpur
From here, Congress had declared Shailendra Chaudhary as its candidate in the first list. Seeing the displeasure of the sitting MLA of this seat and former Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati, the party again declared NP Prajapati as its candidate in place of Shailendra Chaudhary in the second list. Angered by being denied the ticket, Shailendra is now contesting the elections as an independent candidate. Senior party leaders talked to him, but he did not agree.
Bargi assembly seat of Jabalpur
Jaikant Singh, son of former MLA Sobran Singh, has rebelled from this seat. Jaikant Singh, son of two-time Congress MLA Sobran Singh, had sought ticket from Bargi assembly in 2018 also. He was assured that he would definitely get the ticket in 2023. Jaikant Singh says that his father gave his entire life to the Congress Party, yet he was neglected. Because of this, he is now contesting elections from Real India Party.
Badnagar assembly seat of Ujjain
In Badnagar assembly constituency, Congress had cancelled the ticket of sitting MLA Murli Morwal and given it to Rajendra Singh Solanki. Morwal's supporters created a ruckus in Bhopal. After this, the ticket of Rajendra Singh Solanki was changed and given again to Murli Morwal. Now Rajendra Singh Solanki has filed an independent nomination. Solanki said that now I am not going to back down. A large number of supporters are with me, although a call was received from Congress election in-charge Randeep Surjewala. He had asked not to file a nomination.
Sihora assembly seat of Jabalpur
Apart from former minister Kaushalya Gotiya, former District Panchayat member Jamuna Maravi has revolted from the Sihora Assembly seat due to not getting the ticket. Both of them had asked for ticket from Sihora, but when Congress gave ticket to Ekta Thakur in her place, both of them got angry. Now both of them have decided to contest the elections as independents. The party leaders had also explained to Kaushalya, but she did not agree.
