The victory of BJP’s sitting MlA Ramesh Mendola from Indore-2 constituency has come as a surprise to many. He wrested the constituency with a margin of 91,017 votes by defeating the Congress nominee Chhotu Shukla.
Mendola got 1,33,669 votes, while the Congress candidate Chhotu Shukla managed to get 42,652 votes.
This is the third biggest victory in the country so far. Earlier, Samajwadi Party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and PA Sangma have won with
the margin of 1,83,899 and 2,24,424 votes respectively.
BJP insiders claim that Chhotu was not interested in contesting assembly election. The Congress had first fielded Mohan Sengar from Indore- 2, but he faced strong Opposition from the party rank and file. Chhotu was one of those who had strongly opened front against Sengar.
Sensing this, the party fielded Chhotu Shukla from the constituency, despite the fact that when he was asked for in this regard, he had categorically refused to contest election. He is also learnt to be business partner of Mendola’s nephew.
Sources claim that after the party gave ticket to him, he did not make earnest efforts to win the election and thus Mendola became victorious. Chhotu got 42652 votes, which are considered as of committed Congress votes.
Indore-2 seat has been considered a stronghold of BJP. The party has been winning the assembly polls from this constituency since 1993.
Earlier, Industry Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya represented this constituency, but in 2008, he quit this seat for his confidant Mendola.
In terms of vote margin, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stands next to Mendola. He won the Budhni seat with a margin of 84,805 votes.
By getting 1, 28, 730 votes, he defeated Mahendra Singh Chouhan of Congress, who polled 43,925 votes.
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh's son Jaiwardhan Singh won the Raghogarh constituency in Guna district with a margin of 58,204 votes. Jaiwardhan got 98,041 votes against 39,838 secured by his BJP rival Radheshyam Dhakad.