There would be direct fight between BJP district president Alok Sharma and former chairman of Bhopal Municipal Council Kailash Mishra, for the post of mayor in Bhopal. The polling is scheduled to be held on January 31.
After serious of deliberations, the Congress on Tuesday declared the name of Kailash Mishra as its mayoral candidate for Bhopal. With the declaration of Congress candidate, it has now become clear that there would be a direct fight for the mayoral post of the State capital between Bharatiya Janata Party’s Alok Sharma and Congress’ Mishra for the top honour.Mishra was chairman in the outgoing Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and is Corporator for past 20 years, while Sharma is Bhopal district BJP president and has been Corporator for two terms.
Sharma soon after filing his nomination addressed the party workers. “My top priority is to bring Narmada water for the residents of all the 85 wards of the State capital, including Kolar,” Sharma said.Sharma further said that his other priorities included metro train for the State capital and announced that he would work for making the state capital green and clean city.Grounds for choosing Sharma as the mayoral candidate had been prepared in advance and had been an almost certainty after Bhopal mayor’s post was put in the general category during reservations, party insiders said, adding that Sharma was the CM’s choice.
Party sources further said that Sharma was seen as the only leader who had not been ‘accommodated’ against a post from among a lot of younger BJP leaders like Vishwas Sarang, Rameshwar Sharma and Surendranath Singh.Sharma was due to contest the Assembly elections from Bhopal North in 2013, but backed out of the contest.Earlier before filing the nomination Sharma reached the Chhind Waley Hanuman temple and took blessings for victory. While Mishra offered prayers at the three Mazars opposite to his residence before proceeding to file his nomination.
Mishra talking to media persons after filing his nomination said that his priority is to make city clean and beautiful. He claimed that his party is committed towards all round development of the city.The bipolar fight in the state capital has become more interesting as both the players are from the Brahmin community.