Since the start of the election season in Budhni and Vijaypur Assembly constituencies, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition Congress have left no stone unturned in the two constituencies.
Spearheading the BJP's attack, Mohan Yadav, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Vishnu Dutt Sharma, BJP state unit chief, addressed more than a dozen public meetings and conducted roadshows in both areas.
Narendra Singh Tomar, MP Assembly Speaker, has been camping in Vijaypur for over a fortnight. Though not on the original list of star campaigners due to his position in the state Assembly, Tomar was pressed into service after the BJP sensed rough weather in the tribal-dominated area.
Tomar's involvement stirred the Congress, and the party immediately moved the Election Commission of India (ECI), describing Tomar's campaigning as a violation of the model code of conduct. The election watchdog is yet to respond.
The absence of Jyotiraditya Scindia was conspicuous in Vijaypur. Party insiders say that all may not be well between him and Ramnivas Rawat, the BJP candidate in Vijaypur. Ruling party sources say that Rawat had refused to quit the Congress with Scindia when the latter crossed over to the BJP in 2020.
On the other hand, except for former Kamal Nath, all senior Congress leaders-PCC chief Jitu Patwari, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Umang Singhar, Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh, former PCC chief Arun Yadav-and several legislators and office bearers participated in campaign activities.
With the Vijaypur bypoll beginning to acquire caste overtones, the BJP campaign requisitioned the services of Gwalior MP Bharat Singh Kushwaha to woo the sizeable Kushwaha community in Vijaypur. The parliamentarian held a public meeting for the community in the presence of state BJP president.
Political observers feel that there is a tough fight in both constituencies. Both parties have put in all their strength. After the campaigning ended on Monday, both parties began closed-door meetings with booth workers and voters.
