The by-elections scheduled in February, 2018 in Mungaoli and Kolaras Assembly constituencies would prove as a litmus test for both the ruling BJP and the Congress, as the Assembly elections are scheduled in Madhya Pradesh only in November this year.
The outcome of the upcoming by-elections to Mungaoli and Kolaras Assembly seats will give a strong message to political circles even as it would decide the fate of the ruling BJP and the factionalism within the Congress party.
Since, both the constituencies are parts of Guna Parliamentary constituency, which is represented by Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Congress leader is on the ground with full might and leading the fight. The by-polls have not been declared, but Scindia has started camping in the region and sending his dedicated supporters from different parts of the State for working in the field garnering favour for the Congress.
For Scindia, retaining both the seats in his home turf is a battle of prestige as he is positioning himself as the chief ministerial candidate of the Congress. His recent visit to Bhopal and meeting with PCC Chief Arun Yadav was viewed as his exercise to take Yadav and his camp along in wresting both the seats. Since, there are sizeable votes of Yadav community in both the constituencies, Yadav was spared of his post by the high command.
Both the BJP and Congress are confident of the victory on the two seats, which were so far in the possession of Congress.
The by-polls were necessitated due to the death of sitting Congress MlAs Mahendra Singh Kalukheda (Mungaoli) and Ram Singh Yadav (Kolaras).
Aware of the high stakes involved, the Gwalior royal has been constantly touring these two seats in a bid to ward off the saffron challenge.