In MP, new faces dominate Cong’s 3rd list, MLA axed

◗ Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia to be the top contenders for the chief minister’s post.

Bhopal ( MP), Nov. 6: The Congress has issued its third list of 13 candidates for the November 28 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, which mainly comprises new faces. The party has dropped Pandhurna MLA Jatan Uikey and replaced him with Neelesh Uikey. Loyalists of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia also found place on the list. Both Scindia and Nath, the sitting MP from Chhindwara seat, are believed to be the top contenders for the chief minister’s post from the Congress. With the latest list issued Monday night, the Congress has so far announced 184 nominees for the total 230 Assembly constituencies. The announcement for the remaining 46 candidates is awaited as only three days are left for filing nominations. The Congress has been out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003. The incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party ( BJP) government is seeking a fourth straight term.

Among the 13 candidates, the Congress has fielded former state minister Deepak Saxena, a close confidante of Kamal Nath, from Chhindwara seat. Another prominent nominee is Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, a loyalist of state Congress campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has been renominated from Bamori in Guna district.

The Congress seems to have reposed faith in the first- timers in its latest list. Among the new nominees are Sunil Uikey from Junnardeo and Sujit Choudhary from Chourai Assembly seat in Chhindwara district. The party has replaced Pandhurna MLA Jatan Uikey. — PTI