In a sudden change of events, Indore-2 sitting MLA Ramesh Mendola on Wednesday agreed to leave the constituency for his ‘godfather’ and BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya’s son Akash. But Lok Sabha Speaker and local MP Sumitra Mahajan’s opposition is still there over the idea of fielding both Akash and Ramesh Mendola from constituencies in the city.
Amid such a situation, Vijayvargiya here on Wednesday said: “Hamare Dada (Ramesh Mendola) bade delaire hai. Woh mujhse bole ke mujhe ticket mile na mile par Akash ko jaroo ladana chahiye (from Indore-2). (Ramesh Mendola is generous. He told me that whether he gets ticket or not but Akash should be fielded for sure),” the senior BJP leader told reporters. Vijayvargiya, however, said that he wants both Mendola and Akash to contest elections (from separate seats in the city). “But if the party does not give permission for the same then Mendola alone would contest election.
Akash and I won’t contest election,” he said. Asked to verify the announcement, Mendola who was also standing beside Vijayvargiya, said that they all work as a team and whatever their leader (Vijayvargiya) decides remains final. Indore-2 constituency, the home turf of Vijayvargiya, has always been his first choice to field his foreign educated son. For Akash, nothing would be better than stepping into state politics from Indore-II, which had been represented by his father for three terms before gifting the seat to his protégé Mendola in 2008.
In Indore-2, Mendola won 2008 elections by a margin of nearly 40,000 votes in 2008 whereas he set a record of winning by 91,017 votes in 2013 polls. Launching Akash from this constituency would be safest and a sure-shot win. As Vijayvargiya had vacated this seat to his righthand man Mendola for fulfilling his political aspiration, the senior BJP leader wanted Mendola to return the favour.
However, Mendola was initially not very keen to offer the safest seat on a platter to Akash. But when Vijayvargiya offered him Indore-3 seats lately, Mendola reportedly told his mentor that he would vacate Indore-2 seat if he was granted ticket from Indore-3. Before that could happen, Mahajan raised objection over giving Indore-3 to Vijayvargiya camp. Mahajan reportedly wants to keep this seat safe for launch of his son Mandar in future.
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With just two days remaining to submit nominations, the list of BJP candidates from Indore constituencies is likely to be declared on Thursday. The party may strike balance between Tai and Bhai camps by again offering three out of nine seats in Indore to each side. Vijayvargiya camp is likely to get Indore-2, Mhow and Indore-3 or Rau, whereas Tai camp may get Indore- 1, Indore-5 and Sanver assembly seat.