The Congress may have formed the government in the state after winning assembly polls but it could take lead only on 12 Lok Sabha constituencies from the BJP. BJP was leading on 17 Lok Sabha seats against Congress. During Lok Sabha elections, 2014, Congress could win only 2 seats which rose to 3 after bypolls. It has become a challenge for the BJP to tackle with a dozen seats where Congress was leading.
BJP had won Lok Sabha elections 2014, from Betul Lok Sabha constituency by a margin of 3.28 lakh votes. BJP, during assembly polls, lost this seat by a margin of 40,000 votes. This time, BJP denied ticket to MP Jyoti Dhurvey and gave it to DD Uikey. The Betul Lok Sabha seat, known to be a bastion of BJP, has become a challenge. BJP MP from Khargone, Subhash Patel had won past Lok Sabha elections by 2.57 lakh votes but BJP lost this seat in assembly polls by a margin of 10,000 votes. BJP this time has denied ticket to sitting MP and gave it to Gajendra Patel.
BJP MP, Dewas, Manohar Untwaal won Lok Sabha elections by a margin of 2.60 lakh. BJP got 40000 votes less than its previous score during assembly polls. With Untwaal becoming an MLA, BJP is going to field a new candidate from this seat.
BJP MP from Rajgarh Rodmal Nagar won by 2.28 lakh votes but the party during assembly polls got 1.09 lakh votes less than Congress. Nagar this time too is in the election fray from Rajgarh.
BJP MP from Bhind Bhagirath Prasad won by 1.50 lakh votes but lost assembly polls by 99,000 votes. The party has denied ticket to Prasad and fielded Sandhya Rai. (See archive column). Morena MP Anup Mishra had won by 1.32 lakh votes but BJP lost this seat by 1.26 lakh votes. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been given ticket from this seat and Mishra has been denied ticket.
BJP had won Dhar seat by 1.04 lakh votes but it lost in assembly polls from this seat by 2.20 lakh votes. BJP has not announced its candidate from this seat. The party leaders predict all possibility of ticket denial to sitting MP Savitri Thakur.
BJP MP from Mandla, Phaggan Singh Kulaste had won Lok Sabha elections by 1.10 lakh votes but lost assembly pols by 1.22 lakh votes. BJP has again fielded Kulaste from this seat.
Union minister Narendra Tomar had won Lok Sabha elections from Gwalior seat by 29,000 votes but BJP lost this seat in assembly polls by 1.34 lakh votes. With Tomar getting ticket from Morena, a new candidate may be launched from Gwalior seat. BJP MP from Shahdol, Gyan Singh had won bypolls by 56,000 votes. Congress took lead in assembly polls by 21,000 votes. Himadri Singh has been given ticket ffrom this seat by denying ticket to sitting MP.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath had won elections from Chhindwara by 1.16 lakh votes. Congress raised its vote tally in assembly polls by 1.22 lakh votes. Nakul Nath, son of Kamal Nath would contest elections from Chhindwara seat. MP Kantilal Bhuria had won Ratlam bypolls by 60,000 votes. The lead reduced to 29,000 votes from this seat during assembly polls. Bhuria is once again contesting from this seat from Congress. Congress has a big challenge from this seat as Bhuria has sound standing in this area.