There is dissent within the ranks in the Congress and BJP in Madhya Pradesh. And though not many are willing to come on record, leaders of both parties admit in private that internal rebellion is a major cause for concern.
The BJP has dropped at least 45 sitting MlAs in Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, many former MlAs and party leaders who were expecting tickets have been left disappointed, prompting themto rebel.
The Congress, which won 71 seats in 2008, has dropped nine MlAs. However, the party feels that more damage will be caused by those who were expecting a ticket but did not get it.
“Those sitting MlAs who have been dropped have been assured that they will be accommodated in various positions if party comes to power. The cause for concern is those who have been trying in vain for tickets for the last two elections. Now some of them are contesting as Independents,” an official said. The most prominent rebel contesting as an Independent is Kalawati Bhuria, niece of MP Congress president Kantilal Bhuria. She wanted a ticket from Jhabua but was ignored. Another senior leader who was denied a ticket, Congress state vice president Manak Agarwal, has resigned from his post in protest. State vice-president of Congress’ Backward Class cell, Suraj Jaiswal, who was denied candidature from Jabalpur, also resigned from the party and is in the fray as an Independent.
Party leaders feel that those denied tickets will not show their anger openly.
“To damage the party’s prospects, they will use influence to dent the performance of the party's candidate. One such seat is Bhojpur from where Suresh Pachouri is contesting,” a party official added.
The BJP, which is fighting anti-incumbency in the state, was forced to take the risk of dropping 45 sitting MlAs. Prominent among those dropped are two from Bhopal, Dhruvnarayan Singh and Jeetendra Daga. Former home minister Himmat Kothari, whose candidature was rejected by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has announced that he will contest the election as an Independent.