BJP’s 1st list of candidates for MP Assembly polls has a mix of old & new

NEW DELHI: Battling anti-incumbency and a serious challenge from Congress, BJP has denied tickets to three ministers and around 27 sitting MLAs in its first list of 177 candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. It has given ticket to sons of some prominent leaders and held back the declaration of candidates in some areas as the party brass is trying to strike a balance between its top leaders who wish to accommodate their candidates in these seats.

BJP sources said the party top leadership went by its internal survey reports while choosing candidates but on several seats the challenge from Congress, ego issues among its own leaders and a bid to avoid ruffling any feathers also played a role. The party is also in touch with some Congress leaders who may jump ship. However, contrary to the perception that several sitting MLAs will not be given a ticket the party has not fielded only a little over two dozen. Others missing in the list have given way to their kin.

Social justice and empowerment minister Thawar Chand Gehlot’s son Jitendra will contest on a BJP ticket from Alot reserved seat. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan wants her son Mandaar to be fielded from one of the seats in her constituency Indore. Candidates for none of the eight assembly seats in this Lok Sabha constituency have been declared in the first list.


While party leaders said this is because Mahajan is away on an official trip to Argentina, the real reason is a decision on her son’s candidature and her tussle with party national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on this turf.

Maya Singh, who is related to the Scindia royal family and is a minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, has not been fielded this time.

Gauri Shankar Sejwal, also a minister, will not contest and his son Mudit has been given the ticket this time from Sanchi reserved seat.Similarly, Harsh Singh has bowed out in favour of his son Vikram for Rampur Baghelan seat. Two Lok Sabha members have also been given the ticket. Dewas MP Manohar Untwal will contest from Agar while Khajuraho MP Nagendra Singh will contest from Nagod.