Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has indirectly pointed fingers at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its defeat in the Vijaypur Assembly by-election. Speaking to the media in Gwalior on Friday night, Scindia suggested that his presence in the campaign trail may have influenced the results, stating, “I would have campaigned if I had been invited.”
Scindia’s statement has raised eyebrows, given his name was prominently listed among the BJP’s star campaigners for the by-election. Despite this, the Union Minister chose to remain absent from the campaign. Political observers suggest this deliberate distancing might indicate deeper tensions within the BJP ranks, particularly concerning Vijaypur’s candidate, Ramniwas Rawat.
Rawat, a former Congress MLA from Vijaypur, switched allegiance to the BJP in 2024, just before the Lok Sabha elections. His move to the BJP came after he reportedly declined to follow Scindia’s defection from Congress in 2020. Subsequently, Rawat was rewarded with the Forest Minister’s portfolio in the state cabinet, reportedly at his own request.
However, his candidature in Vijaypur appears to have backfired, as local voters expressed dissatisfaction with his political maneuvering. Congress spokesperson Dharmendra Sharma, told The Pioneer, “The voters were already annoyed with Rawat for joining the BJP. Even if Scindia had campaigned, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference.”
Meanwhile, BJP insiders have dismissed Scindia’s claims, accusing him of evading responsibility. Party sources allege that Scindia’s campaign schedule was prepared well in advance but he failed to turn up. “His claim that he wasn’t invited is baseless. The party had arranged for his participation, but he chose to stay away,” said a senior BJP leader.
Scindia’s remarks are being viewed by many as an attempt to deflect criticism and save face. However, the statement has exposed underlying fault lines within the BJP, with questions being raised about the coordination between party leadership and Scindia’s faction.
The Vijaypur by-poll loss has not only dented the BJP’s confidence but also highlighted the challenges of managing leaders who defect from rival parties. For Scindia, this episode could signal a weakening influence within his new political home, especially as accusations of disloyalty swirl around him.
For the Congress, the defeat may bolster its narrative that BJP’s leadership is failing to win over disgruntled voters, particularly in constituencies with high-profile defectors.
