Bhopal: The results of urban civic body polls in the scheduled areas of the state have sounded warning bells for 12 MLAs of the ruling party. Two of them are ministers. Despite the CM’s vigorous campaign and the BJP’s all-out efforts, the Congress has emerged victorious in the constituencies of these MLAs. The CM has been repeatedly urging the MLAs to pay attention to their constituencies. The organisation has also conveyed to many MLAs that their popular base in their areas is eroding. The civic polls outcome indicates that things will not be easy for these MLAs in assembly polls.
The BJP lost in Shahpura, assembly constituency of minister Omprakash Dhurvey. The Congress candidate registered a victory in the Right-to-Recall polls in Suryaprakash Meena’s constituency Shamshabad.
Among MLAs, the BJP had to bite the dust in the constituencies of Sangeeta Charel (Sailana), Shantilal Bilawal (Jhabua), Nagar Singh Chouhan (Alirajpur), Rajkumar Mev (Maheshwar), Nathanshah Kavreti (Junnardeo), Nanabhau Mahod (Sausar), Rampyarare Kulaste (Niwas) and Hitendra Solanki (Badwah). The Congress candidate managed to save his seat in the Right-to-Recall elections in Gadarwara, constituency of BJP MLA Govind Patel.
Besides wrong choice of candidates, anti-incumbency sentiment against these MLAs is also said to be behind the defeat of the BJP. In legislature party meetings, Chouhan has been telling the MLAs in unequivocal terms that those who perform poorly may not be fielded by the party in assembly polls. The state party chief has already announced that the party will review the reasons for its defeat. This may create further problems for the MLAs.
Five Cong MLAs too sailing in same boat
Besides ruling party MLAs, the poll outcome does not augur well for five Congress members too. The party has lost in the constituencies of Jhuma Solanki (Bhikangaon), Kamlesh Shah (Amarwada), Imarti Devi (Dabra), Manoj Agarwal (Kotma) and Jatin Uike (Pandurna).
