Indore – 1
SUDARSHAN GUPTA- BJP
Highs
Active, easily approachable
Businesses flourished during his tenures as MLA
After Lalit Jain, only leader to have won twice from constituency
Lows
Failed to keep Mr Clean tag. Hooliganism rampant in his tenure
Did not stand by people whose houses were demolished by IMC
Bad mouthed rival Sanjay Shukla’s father
SANJAY SHUKLA- CONGRESS
Highs
Simple, active, easily accessible
Though his family members charged with extortion, he maintains Mr Clean image
Successful businessman, popular among youths
Lows
Extortion by family members may dent his winning chances
Faces charge of purchasing ticket
No one from family including father, brother or self won assembly election
Indore- 2
RAMESH MENDOLA – BJP
Highs
Known for launching several development projects
Considered invincible, won last polls by over 91,000 votes
Accessible, popular among youths, simple lifestyle, live contact with people
Lows
Goons extort money from shopkeepers
Many of his supporters drifted away from him in last five years
Had uneasy relations with Vijayvargiya
MOHAN SENGAR – CONGRESS
Highs
Polite, approachable, clean image
Active in constituency for long, has good rapport with people
Stands by people in their difficulties
Lows
Gets active only during election time
His party has not won election since 1993
Contesting election against BJP heavyweight Ramesh Mendola
Indore – 3
AKASH VIJAYVARGIYA – BJP
Highs
Son of BJP heavyweight Kailash Vijayvargiya
Foreign educated, has support of youths
Has learnt nitty-gritty of politics from father, Mendola
Lows
Inexperienced, contesting polls for first time
Fielded against three-time MLA Ashwin Joshi from a constituency he did not wish to contest
Still to prove himself a politician like his father was in his youth
ASHWIN JOSHI- CONGRESS
Highs
Three-time MLA with clean image
Many development works took place in his tenure
Checked anti-socials, did not let extortion take place in constituency
Lows
Often invites ire of people for his rude behaviour
Relations with his uncle and Congress senior leader Mahesh Joshi deteriorated of late
Many Congress workers drifted away from him in last five years
Indore – 4
MALINI GAUD-BJP
Highs
Indore bagged cleanest city award twice as mayor
Two-time MLA, retained seat of husband late Laxman Singh Gaud
Strong woman leader after Sumitra Mahajan
Lows
Large number of houses and shops demolished in Biyabani
Family members are musclemen. Bad image among business class
Allegation of forceful donation by family members and relatives for organising cultural programme
SURJEET SINGH CHADDHA-CONGRESS
Highs
Three-time corporator from different wards
Has clean image. Good reach in business class
People who suffered demolition support him
Lows
Allegations of remaining inactive
Lack of recognition among large number of new voters
Lack of support from his community
Indore – 5
MAHENDRA HARDIA- BJP
Highs
Clean image
Three-time MLA, also served as minister of health and family welfare
Got sanction for flyovers to ease traffic jam
Lows
Allegations of being inactive
Allegations for not supporting people at Kanadia Road at time of demolition
Couldn’t retain minister’s post for long
SATYANARAYAN PATEL – CONGRESS
Highs
Was MLA from Indore-5 and Depalpur
Strong political background. His father was minister in Digvijaya Singh’s government
Has clean image
Lows
Allegation of being a parachute candidate
Allegations of using money power in elections
Lost assembly election from Depalpur and Lok Sabha election against Sumitra Mahajan
Rau
MADHU VERMA- BJP
Highs
Has long political experience
Worked as IDA chairman. Have many things to count as his achievement while on post
Has clean image
Lows
Remained inactive for long time
No reach among rural voters
Uncertain of getting community votes
JITU PATWARI – CONGRESS
Highs
Won election during Modi wave, only Congress MLA in district
Has good public relations. Can be seen meeting people while cycling
Developed image of state leader
Lows
Known for giving controversial statements
Videos circulated with his controversial statements including ‘Party Gai Tel Lene’
Facing protest in many villages
Mhow
USHA THAKUR- BJP
Highs
Blue-eyed girl of Sangh Parivar
Has reputation of wresting seats from Congress
Has clean image
Lows
Uncanny knack for making controversial statements
Working style leads to infighting in party, her seat is changed every time
Despite being active, anti-incumbency wave prevails against her
ANTAR SINGH DARBAR- CONGRESS
Highs
Congress strongman, two-time MLA
Socially connected, stands by people of constituency in their highs and lows
Down to earth, simple lifestyle
Lows
Cannot accept defeat, always smells rat
Lost faith of many party workers due to defeat in last two elections
Not made any remarkable development as MLA
Sanwer
RAJESH SONKAR- BJP
Highs
Has clean image
Lok Sabha Speaker and MP Sumitra Mahajan selected Potlod village in constituency as model village. Backed by Mahajan
PhD holder, easily approachable
Lows
Inactive for five years
Faced protest in many areas during campaigning
Allegations for not getting work done even when his party was in power
TULSI SILAWAT- CONGRESS
Highs
Experience of being MLA twice
Has support of Jyotiraditya Scindia
Good reach at grass root level
Lows
Lost election against Prakash Sonkar and Rajesh Sonkar
Allegations of supporting goons
Uncertain of getting community votes
Depalpur
MANOJ PATEL – BJP
Highs
Good political background, his father late Nirbhaya Singh Patel was senior BJP leader
Close to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, union minister Narendra Singh Tomar
Good reach in Patel community
Lows
Not approachable
Allegations of being inactive
No major achievement
VISHAL PATEL- CONGRESS
Highs
Succeeded in getting ticket against wish of Satyanarayan Patel
Clean image
Penetrations among young and new voters
Lows
Inexperienced
Fear of sabotage from his party leaders
Uncertain of getting community votes