With the BJP’s announcement of its candidate for the Garoth Assembly constituency bypoll on Tuesday, both the major political parties have declared their candidates. There would be direct contest between Congress’ Subhash Sojatia and BJP’s Chandar Singh Sisodiya.
Sojatia had represented Garoth in Assembly in 1985, 1993, 1998 and 2008. In 2013 he had lost to BJP's Rajesh Yadav. Yadav's death sometime back due to illness necessitated by-election that is scheduled on June 27.
However, Congress has reposed faith in Sojatia and re-nominated him to take on BJP. The BJP leaders claim that BJP’s candidate Sisodiya is a first timer but would certainly give a tough fight to the experienced Sojatia.
Sisodiya has worked for Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) for long. At present, he is the district vice president of the party. With a pro-farmer image, he has worked for the development of agriculture by promotion of developed equipments in the constituency. He has also been the flag bearer of party’s co-operative movement in the district.
Sisodiya will file the nominations on June 18 at 11 am at the Garoth by-election office before the presiding officer. A rally will be organised for filing the nomination. In the rally, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, State party president Nandkumar Singh Chouhan, state organizational general secretary Arvind Menon along with other leaders will remain present.
Besides, the party has submitted a list of star campaigners to the Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer, Madhya Pradesh. Star campaigners of the party include national president Amit Shah, Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani, Thawarchand Gehlot and Narendra Singh Tomar, national organizational general secretary Ramlal, national vice president and in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Vinay Sahashtrabuddhe, BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje Scindia and others.