Few safe bets for BJP and Congress in 12 seats in Jabalpur region

Jabalpur: The BJP is relying on the Ram temple, the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ladli Behna scheme to regain lost ground in Jabalpur and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh where Congress has fielded strong local faces.

Of the 12 seats here, the most keenly watched contest is in Jabalpur West, where BJP's Lok Sabha chief whip and sitting MP Rakesh Singh is contesting against former finance minister in the Kamal Nath government Tarun Bhanot. Another two MPs including Union Minister Prahlad Patel from Narsingpur and Uday Pratap Singh from Gadarwara are also contesting from this region.

In last assembly polls, out of the eight assembly seats in Jabalpur, the BJP and Congress won four seats each in this saffron party's bastion. In Narsinghpur, the Congress won three seats and the BJP one.


Congress candidates are seeking votes in the name of change and by highlighting the paper leak in the patwari exam and the present government's corruption. The party's posters highlight Kamal Nath's face, the candidate's face and these issues.

BJP's posters highlight the Ram temple along with the posters of Prime Ministers Narendra Modi.

In urban pockets of these two districts, the BJP is seeking votes for Santan Dharma and Ram temple, while in rural belts they have been highlighting the Ladli Behna scheme.

Among the different narratives which both parties are trying to push, 'badlav' (change) seems to have some echo on the ground even as people are acknowledging the state government's ladli behna scheme.

Two seats where BJP seems to be safe is Jabalpur Cantt where its strong local face Ashok Ruhani is contesting and Union Minister Patel's Narsingpur constituency.

The Congress seems to be comfortably placed in Jabalpur east and Tenduhkhera in Narsinghpur district.

BJP MP Uday Pratap Singh is facing a challenging contest as Congress sitting local MLA Sunita Patel.

In the eight assembly seats, BJP has changed its candidates on three seats -- Jabalpur West, Jabalpur North Central and Sihora. Congress has changed its candidates on Sihora and Panagar.