In all 13 candidates are in the fray in Tikamgarh lok Sabha constituency in the Bundelkhand region of the state, and like most of the constituencies in the state, a straight contest is on the cards bewteen arch rivals, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress.
Both the BJP and Congress have fielded outside candidates. While the BJP reposed faith in its outgoing MP Virendra Khatik, the Congress preferred a new face, Kamal Verma.
The Samajwadi Party gave ticket to Uttar Pradesh's former MlA Ambres Kumari. The Bahujan Samaj Party and the Aam Aadmi Party candidates are Sevakram Ahirwar and Ramesh Verma, respectively.
Tikamgarh lok Sabha constituency came to existence in 2008 following the delimitation. Earlier, this constituency came under Khajuraho.
In 2009, Khatik defeated his nearest Congress rival Vrindavan Ahirwar by 41,862 votes. The fifth-time parliamentarian Khatik won from Sagar constituency for the fourth time.
However, Congress candidate Verma, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba, is an unknown face who got ticket directly from Delhi, owing to his closeness to the high command. Verma also contested from Uttar Pradesh's Charkhari in 2007 but was defeated.
SP candidate Kumari won Assembly polls from Charkheri in 2002. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had already addressed a rally in favour of her, while some MlAs and SP workers are campainging for her also.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh also addressed rallies for the BJP candidate, who is banking on the "Modi wave".
The two main issues, poverty and unemployment, are dominating in this economically-backward constituency. But since the caste factor is not so vital, the farmers would decide the candidates' fate.
Thus far, the Congress won seven times while the BJP managed to register victory for the sixth time. Socialist leaders also won twice from this seat.
A total 15, 28, 407 voters, including 7, 08, 139 females, would exercise their franchasie on Thursday.