From 1998, BJP has won Balaghat Lok Sabha constituency five times in a row. However, it never repeated candidate and following tradition, BJP didn't field incumbent MP Bodh Singh Bhagat from this seat.  BJP nominated Dhal Singh Bisen from Balaghat. This greatly angered Bhagat and there were reports of clashes between supporters of two leaders after the party made the call. 

Later despite BJP's efforts to placate him, Bhagat has filed nomination as an independent candidate and may prove to be critical in the final equation. 

Congress has fielded Madhu Bhagat who lost in the last assembly election in December 2018 from Paraswada, one of the assembly segments under Balaghat. Another candidate who lost was Kankar Munjare, who is the SP-BSP joint candidate from Balaghat. Congress last won the seat in 1996 when Vishveshwar Bhagat won. Vishveshwar has tried several times to again win the seat back, but failed to do. Historically, Congress has won the seat seven times and BJP on five occasions. 

In total, 23 candidates are in fray and 17.61 lakh voters will decide their fate on April 29. The assembly segments under Balaghat are Baihar, Lanji , Paraswada, Balaghat,Waraseon, Katangi, Barghat and Seoni. Three segments Baihar, Lanji and Paraswada are under the influence of Left Wing Extremism. 

Voting for 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh are being held in 4 phases. In the first phase Balaghat, Chhindwara. Jabalpur. Mandla, Shahdol and Sidhi are going to polls. BJP won 27 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats in the last Lok Sabha election. In the 2018 Assembly polls, where BJP lost, the party was ahead in 17 Lok Sabha seats.