MP bypolls may settle Cong CM face race

The February 24 byelections to Kolaras and Mungaoli Assmbly seats in Madhya Pradesh may settle the leadership issue in the state Congress ahead of November, 2018 Assembly polls.

Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, a front runner in the race for being the chief ministerial candidate in the Assembly elections in the state, is currently leading party campaign to retain both the bypoll seats, falling under the Guna Lok Sabha constituency being represented by him.

A victory in the bypolls will strengthen his claim to be made the face of the party in the November elections.

The byelections to the two assembly seats have been necessitated by the death of sitting Congress MLAs of these constituencies.

The victory of the Congress in the recently held Chitrakoot Assembly byelections has put further pressure on Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia to ensure party’s win in Kolaras and Mungaoli seats in the February 24 bypolls.

Congress Legislature Party ( CLP) leader Ajey Singh, another strong contender for chief ministerial nominee, had led Congress’ victorious campaign in Chitrakoot.

Sources disclosed that

Mr Scindia had ensured that a rival faction leader in the party was given the charge of Kolaras Assembly byelections to pre- empt any bid to sabotage the party prospects in the bypolls.

Interestingly, his aunt, state sports minister Yasodhara Scindia, has been given charge of Kolaras byelections by the ruling BJP.

The BJP has nominated Devendra Jain, a loyalist of Ms Scindia, for the Kolaras seat.

The February 24 bypolls will also be an acid test for chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan since his image as vote- catcher for the BJP has suffered a beating following defeat of the party in Ater and Chitrakoot Assembly byelections recently.“Development of Kolaras and Mungaoli can’t be done by Rajas- Maharajas,” Mr Chouhan tweeted on Friday apparently targeting Mr Scindia.

Both Mr Chouhan and Mr Scindia have been campaigning extensively in these two constituencies for the past one month.