BJP has announced its candidates for 15 seats in the state for Lok Sabha elections but still has to take call on remaining 14 seats. There is high probability that the sitting MPs on the 14 seats may be denied ticket this time. The decision on these seats is put on hold to explore new candidates to replace the incumbent MPs.
The party has to announce its candidates on Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Guna, Rajgarh, Dewas, Khajuraho, Khargone, Dhar, Ratlam, Sagar, Balaghat, Vidisha and Chhindwara seats. Not able to take a call on these seats, the state leaders have left the decision on to Central leadership.
The Congress’ decision to field former chief minister Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal seat has put BJP in dilemma. The names doing rounds for Bhopal seat include state general secretary VD Sharma and mayor Alok Sharma besides former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Deliberations for choosing the candidate are on for Indore seat. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is insisting giving ticket to Sumitra Mahajan from Indore. Mayor Malini Gaur and Kailash Vijayvargiya are also in the fray from this seat. For Gwalior, BJP is waiting for Congress to announce its candidate. If Congress gives ticket to Ashok Singh then mayor Vivek Shejwalkar may be fielded against him from the BJP. If Congress fields anyone from Scindia family then BJP may consider some other candidate from here.
Yashodhara Raje Scindia is leading amongst candidates for Guna seat. Anup Mishra is also in the fray from this seat. MP Rodmal Nagar is in line from Rajgarh seat as no member from Digvijaya’s family is in the arena here. BJP is also considering name of former MLA Raghunandan Sharma from this seat.
Premchand Guddu and a retired judge are the names under consideration for Dewas seat. Former minister Kusum Mehadale is in line for Khajuraho seat. Gajendra Patel and Antar Singh Arya are under consideration for ticket from Khargone. It is said that sitting MP Subhash Patel may not get ticket this time.
It is also sure that sitting MP from Dhar, Savitri Thakur may face ticket refusal but her replacement has not yet been decided. Nirmala Bhuria and Gopal Kannoj are under consideration for ticket from Ratlam. Sushil Tiwari from Sagar is leading amongst ticket contenders and it is said that sitting MP Laxmi Narayan may not get ticket this time. Former minister Jayant Mallaiya is also keen on getting ticket from this seat.
Toran Singh Dangi and Ramakant Bhargava are in the fray from Vidisha. BJP may also launch some national leader from this seat. Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) leader from Chhindwara, Manmohan Batti is also in the arena. It is sure that Batti will get ticket if he joins BJP.