Even as the notification for the first phase in state for Lok Sabha polling will be issued on Tuesday, the two national parties – Congress and BJP- are yet to finalize its candidates for the six LS constituencies – Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat and Chhindwara that will go to polls on April 29.
Both the BJP and the Congress are struggling with the names as submission of nominations will continue until April 9 and April 12 being the last date of withdrawals.In ticket distribution, the BJP is one step ahead of Congress. Out of the six constituencies, BJP has declared candidates for five, it has yet to decide the candidate from Chhindwara.
The Congress on the other hand is moving cautiously and had only picked two candidates till date for the constituencies going to polls in first phase in the state. For Chhindwara constituency, neither the Congress nor the BJP have come up with their candidates. Congress is all set to go with Nakul Nath, son of chief minister Kamal Nath, however, it is still to declare it. The seat has been Congress strong hold and Kamal Nath has been elected nine times from the constituency.
The BJP has fielded Riti Pathak from Sidhi constituency, the Congress is not to decide its candidate. Name of former leader of opposition, Ajay Singh is doing rounds, however the party has still to declare the same. From Shahdol, the BJP has given the ticket to Himadri Singh, daughter of former Union minister Dalbir Singh who had switched over to the BJP from the Congress recently.
Congress’ Pramila Singh will face her in the polls from the constituency. BJP state president Rakesh Singh is in poll fray from Jabalpur seat. The Congress is still deliberating upon the winnable candidate. Vivek Tankha, Congress leader and MP from Rajya Sabha is front runner in the race for the ticket, however no decision has been taken so far. In 2014 elections, Tankha had lost to Singh by over 2 lakh vote margin.
Espousing faith on sitting MP Faggan Singh Kulste, the BJP has once again fielded him from Mandla seat. Congress’ search for its candidate continues even as names of Kamal Marawi and Bhupendra Barkade are doing the rounds. BJP candidate Dhal Singh Bisen will take on congress nominee Madhu Bhagat in Balaghat constituency.