It would be a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP in the Chitrakoot Assembly (Satna district) by-election scheduled for November 9. The counting would take place on November 12.
Both the BJP and Congress declared their candidates on Sunday, a day before he last day for nominations.
The BJP has fielded Shankarlal Tripathi, while the Congress has pitted Neelandhu Chaturvedi. Chaturvedi is a former municipality chairman, while BJP's nominee Tripathi has been on the post of district secretary of the party and was Mandal president.
Political sources said that Chaturvedi is known as supporter of leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Ajay Singh. Since Satna falls in his areas of influence, the high command had entrusted him with the responsibility of candidate selection.
Chaturvedi was elected as the chairman of municipality in 2009, while at present his younger sister Prachi is the chairperson of the municipality. He would file his nomination papers on Monday.
BJP nominee Tripathi would also file his nominations on Monday in the presence of State BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan. Chouhan, while talking to media persons, claimed that the atmosphere in Chitrakoot is in favour of the BJP and Tripathi would certainly emerge victorious.
Chouhan was talking to media persons in Rewa. He further said that the people of the State have confidence in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government and on this basis, the BJP would win this by-election. The Chitrakoot Assembly seat fell vacant due to the demise of Congress MlA Prem Singh.
The last date for filing nomination papers is October 23, while the last date for withdrawal is October 26.
Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer of Punjab cadre Ashwini Kumar, who has been appointed observer for the Chitrakoot by-election, reached Satna on Sunday.