Ticket to Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan might be dropped from Indore Parliamentary seat. Since, she has crossed 75 years mark, senior party leaders are out to convince her not to contest.
With the BJP high command deciding to axe veterans including LK Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi from the list of nominees with disdain, speculations are rife in Madhya Pradesh’s political circles whether Mahajan fondly addressed as Taai, could also meet the same fate on age grounds.
The age factor was the parameter on which several BJP leaders were side-lined in the past so it’s a concerning factor for Mahajan as well who turns 76 on April 12. However, in Indore city, people reckon her real age to be 78 years.
Though Indore goes to polling on May 19th, it was bit unusual that the BJP did not name her in the initial few lists of candidates.
Indore Lok Sabha seat is being seen with enhanced interest this time as rumours are abuzz that former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia could be the Congress candidate from the seat this time.
Scindia has extended followership in Indore region due to his affiliation to the royal family and in all its likelihood would garner Marathi votes, a stronghold of Mahajan. Besides, after Digvijaya Singh was asked to contest from tough seat of Bhopal, he could also ‘return the favour’ to Scindia by asking the party to let him contest from Indore, held by the BJP since 1989.
The road for eight-time MP Mahajan does not seem much smooth this time as was the case on previous occasions.
On Tuesday confusion on Mahajan’s candidature turned even murkier as unfounded rumours made their ways to media reports that during core committee meeting of the BJP in Indore, Mahajan had made it clear that either she or PM Narendra Modi would contest from Indore and a proposal to this regard has been sent to party high command.
It was seen as a ploy from Mahajan to negate chances of others in the contention. However, Mahajan clarified she was only joking and no such proposal was sent to the party high command.
However, it’s also said that Mahajan is waiting for announcement of Congress candidate as it is widely believed that BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya could be named once Scindia’s name is officially named as Congress candidate from Indore. Otherwise Vijayvagiya is expected to keep focussing on West Bengal where the BJP has appointed him the state in charge.
A section of Mahajan supporters claim there are no surprises over delay in Mahajan’s nomination as Indore goes to poll on May 19 in the last phase of polls in MP.