Announcement of assemblypoll dates on Saturdaysparked off hectic activitiesin the ruling BJP andthe Congress in the state.The Congress that is aimingto end BJP’s 15-years trangle hold on power instate received a body blow from the Samajwadi Partywith Akhilesh Yadav rulingout any tuck with it.
Interestingly, BJP national president Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi both were busy campaigning for their respective parties in different parts of the state when polldates were announced. While Shah toured Indore and Ujjain of Malwa region and addressed farmers’ convention in Jaora, Rahul joined farmers’ demonstration organised by Ekta Parishad in Morena. Later, in a show of strength, he held a roadshow in Jabalpur.
The BJP has announced Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the longest serving CM, as the face of the party this time too. He has been at the helms of the affairs for 13 years. The Congress has avoided announcing its chief ministerial face. Instead it has handed over the reins of elections to state president Kamal Nath, while Jyotiraditya Scindia heads the election campaign committee. Both leaders have been on the job for the last five months. Apart from these two national parties, Bahujan Samaj Party, SAPAKS Samaj, Jai Adivasi Yuva Sangathan (JAYS), Samajwadi Party and Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) too are likely to influence the outcome of elections in the state.
main issues in polls
Agitation of upper castes against amendment in SC/ST Atrocities Act and BJP government’s performance will be the two major poll planks. While BJP claims to have ensured all round development, the Congress accuses the saffron party of damaging the state during its 15-year rule. Soon after announcement of poll dates, Nath tweeted: It is the EC duty to ensure free and fair elections and ensure
compliance with model code of conduct.