The BJP announced names for three more Lok Sabha seats including Gwalior Mayor Vivek Shejwalakar from prestigious Gwalior seat. Over indecision from Congress over naming a candidate from Scindia family from Gwalior, the BJP made up its mind not to go for either Maya Singh or Yashodhara Raje Scindia –both members of extended Scindia family and instead offered nomination to mayor Vivek Shejlawkar, an RSS confidante.
However, given his dismal performance in his second mayoral term, Shejwalakar is not seen as a winning proposition in Gwalior. Shejwalkar though inherits a strong political legacy of his father Narayan Krishna Shejwalkar who was an eminent lawyer, Rajya Sabha MP and also mayor of Gwalior twice. Shejwalkar junior also has lost an assembly poll from Gwalior in 2003. Meanwhile, his nomination also dashed hopes of sitting Morena MP Anoop Mishra was expecting a ticket from Gwalior after union minister Narendra Singh Tomar was offered ticket from Morena. However, it still does not seem end of the road for Mishra as Tomar has hinted shifting seat to Bhopal and in that case, Mishra would the nominee from Morena.
Besides, the BJP on Saturday named another senior RSS functionary Mahendra Solanki, a retired judge from Dewas. With no political background, Solanki comes as a reputed social personality who hails to Balai community. His parents had worked as daily wage labourers.
Congress has named folk singer Prahlad Tipanya from Dewas. Another RSS nominee Nathan Shah has been fielded from Chhindwara against CM Kamal Nath’s son Nakul. Shah has strong bonding with tribal voters however his critics claim his influence is limited to Junnardev assembly seat. Former Gondwana Gantantra Party’s senior leader Manmohan Shah Batty’s name was also making round for nomination from BJP but his candidature could not be finalised. The BJP also named Vivek Sahu for assembly by-poll from Chhindwara. CM Kamal Nath would contest from Chhindwara assembly poll. Yet the BJP has avoided naming anyone from Bhopal or Indore—the two prestigious seats of MP. The Congress has named 22 candidates so far.