StA day after announcing list of 155 candidates, Congress quietly released 16 more names on Sunday evening. Now, the Congress has named candidates on 171 seats out of 230.
On expected lines, party chief whip in Assembly and the five times MLA Ramniwas Rawat was given fielded from Vijaypur, while Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh’s loyalist Mahendra Sigh Chauhan has been pitted from Narela seat in Bhopal presently held by Shivraj Minister Vishwas Sarang who has deep ground connect with voters in the constituency.
Much to relief of Rajnagar MLA Vikram Singh Natiraja, he received re-nomination. There was strong buzz that he could join the BJP, if denied ticket.
Rajendra Bharti, who had complained against Public Relations Minister Narottam Mishra over paid news and even got his membership to assembly annulled by the Election Commission, has been chosen by Congress against Mishra from Datia.
Kamleshwar Dwivedi who lost to slender margin in Sidhi last time has been given re-nomination.
Sources however claimed that following strong protests of locals against nomination of JAYS national convener Heeralal Alawa from Manawar in Dhar and JAYS functionary Laxman Singh Dindor from Ratlam (Rural), Congress was planning to field two more JAYS functionaries from Petlawad and Alirajpur but backtracked.
The party fearful of backlash from local workers offered tickets to local leaders Vel Singh Meda and Mukesh Patel respectively. Alwa and Dindor’s nomination has generated sizable unrest among party workers in Manawar and Ratlam Rural seats.
The party rewarded Munagoli MLA Brajendra Singh Yadav and Kolaras MLA Mahendra Singh Yadav for spirited wins against BJP in by-polls.