The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh is leaving no stone unturned in campaigning for Budhni by-election. This is for the first time that the BJP is making hectic efforts to wrest the Budhni seat, probably due to fielding of non-Kirar community candidate Ramakanth Bhargava.
Till last Assembly elections in 2023, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan contested the election from this constituency and no major effort was made during electioneering by Shivraj or the BJP.
At times, when the Congress leaders tried to corner him, making efforts to defeat him, Shivraj openly challenged stating that he would visit Budhni only to file his nomination papers. He used to say, public of the constituency would contest election on his behalf.
Since, 2006, there have been elections, when Shivraj did not visit Budhni and only his wife Sadhna Singh and son Kartikey Singh Chouhan campaigned for him.
Political observers feel that this time the Budhni by-election is not easy for the BJP as for the first time after decades, the BJP has fielded non-Kirar community candidate- Ramakant Bhargava. On the other hand, the Congress has fielded Rajkumar Patel, who is Kirar by caste. The Kirar community is sizeable in the constituency and play a decisive role in the outcome.
Budhni constituency comprises of three tehsils- Nasrullahganj, Shahganj and Rehati. Kirars are spread in all the three tehsils and play important role in the elections.
BJP insiders say that the voters in the constituency are annoyed with the BJP as they had elected Shivraj Singh Chouhan and he was forcibly removed. Being in the constituency of chief minister, the locals had several benefits which they are being deprived of now.
While talking to The Pioneer, a local BJP leader in Shahganj said, the only chance of BJP winning the by-poll is only if Shivraj visits door to door convincing the voters.
Shivraj, who is Union Agriculture Minister is already campaigning in both Budhni and Vijaypur constituencies.
Spokesperson of the State unit of BJP Rajneesh Agrawal said cast factor does not matter in Budhni constituency. This is for sure that the BJP candidate will win with margin of more than one lakh voters, he claimed.
