Indore: As Lok Sabha Speaker and sitting local MP, Sumitra Mahajan’s chances of securing ticket for upcoming Lok Sabha poll gets bleak, names of three probable candidates have started making rounds. One them is Mahajan’s bete noire and BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya whereas the other two are Indore assembly constituency – 2 MLA Ramesh Mendola and city mayor Malini Gaud.
Eight-time MP from Indore, Mahajan affectionately known as Tai, was sure of getting ticket for Lok Sabha election but when her name did not figure in the first list of 184 candidates declared on Holi, many speculated that party may not field her this time. The speculation got stronger after six subsequent lists also did not mention her name. “The party will declare name of candidate from Indore seat at appropriate time. The reasons behind delay can’t be disclosed to media,” said a BJP functionary.
Though the party did not share the reason, it is believed that the decision on her name has been put on hold due to opposition by two senior leaders – Vijayvargiya and Satyanarayan Sattan. While Sattan has claimed that she has lost touch with Indore and said he would contest election as independent candidate from the city if she is given ticket, Vijayvargiya reportedly played the spoilsport. There are reports that her camp believed to have made efforts that Vijayvargiya’s son does not get ticket from desired seat in assembly elections held last year.
Some state that she could be denied ticket as she is over 75 years of age whereas poll pundits believe that defeat of her camp members in assembly elections ruined her prospects of clinching ticket. Three out of four candidates of her camp including Sudarshan Gupta, Madhu Verma, Rajesh Sonkar suffered defeat in assembly elections. The only candidate of her camp who won election was Mahendra Hardia. He won by a slender margin of nearly 1100 votes.
Kailash Vijayvargiya
Kailash Vijayvargiya, the most influential BJP in Malwa Chambal region, is first alternative to Mahajan. Former state minister and ex-Indore mayor, Vijayvargiya had never tasted defeat in any mainstream election. He also has reputation of wresting seats from Congress. The only hurdle before that he his BJP incharge of West Bengal. Party may not consider giving him ticket from MP.
Ramesh Mendola
Indore-2 MLA Ramesh Mendola, who won assembly election 2018 by highest number of votes, is considered to be a BJP strongman who can win election from any seat in urban areas. If not Vijayvargiya, he could be party’s choice for LS seat. He is also protégé of Vijayvargiya. This is one reason, Tai will oppose his name.
Malini Gaud
Indore mayor Malini Gaud, who has to her credit of clinching cleanest city tag for three times in a row, is also among the front runners. Being a woman, she could be a natural choice to replace a woman MP. Mahajan may endorse her name but Vijayvargiya camp won’t. As she won’t get support from Vijayvargiya camp, her victory would be doubtful thus making party to think twice on her name.
