The local leaders in Jhabua Assembly constituency have come up protesting the candidature of Vikrant Bhuria, son of Member of Parliament from Jhabua-Ratlam parliamentary seat Kantilal Bhuria.
Bhuria who is the strong tribal leader of the Congress in tribal dominated Malwa-Nimar region, compelled the party to field his son Vikrant from Jhbaua.
However, the decision has not gone down well with the local party leaders and protests erupted soon after announcement of tickets.
The opposition to Bhurias grew stronger, as former MLA Xavier Meda filed nomination under the Congress banner expressing faith that the party would change the candidature of Vikrant and giving him the chance.
Meda’s confidence generates from 2008 assembly polls when Congress had initially nominated Kalavati Bhuria, but later backtracked announcing Meda’s name who went on to win the poll.
Kalavati Bhuria, niece of Kantilal Bhuria, however settled scores in 2013 when she contested as an impendent and helped BJP’s Shantilal Bhilwal by eating into Meda’s votes who was re-nominated by Congress.
However, this time, Kantilal Bhuria got his son, a physician by profession nominated from Jhabua, niece Kalawati from Jobat and staunch supporter Veer Singh Bhuria from Thandla. Kalawati and Veer Singh haven’t faced much opposition but Vikrant’s nomination has irked partymen.
Soon after the candidates’ list was released on Saturday, Meda’s supporters protested across the town and also torched effigy of Kantilal Bhuria. The anguished was fuelled by the fact that Meda was almost certain of his ticket and all arrangements were made accordingly. He was said to have offered ticket from Petlavad which he denied.
Sources claimed that before filing nomination, Medha had gone to New Delhi and met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Besides, the official candidate Vikrant is yet to file his nomination.