There is dissent within the ranks in the Congress and BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. And though not many are willing to come on record, leaders of both parties admit in private that internal rebellion is a major cause for concern.
The BJP has dropped at least 45 sitting MLAs in Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, many former MLAs and party leaders who were expecting tickets have been left disappointed, prompting them to rebel.
The Congress, which won 71 seats in 2008, has dropped nine MLAs. However, the party feels that more damage will be caused by those who were expecting a ticket but did not get it. “Those sitting MLAs who have been dropped have been assured that they will be accommodated in various positions if party comes to power. The cause for concern are those who have been trying in vain for tickets for the last two elections. Now some of them are contesting as Independents,” an official said.
The most prominent rebel contesting as an Independent is Kalawati Bhuria, niece of MP Congress president Kantilal Bhuria. She wanted a ticket from Jhabua but was ignored. Similarly, senior Congressman from Bhopal P C Sharma, who was denied a party ticket for the second time, too has announced that he will be going it alone.
Another senior leader who was denied a ticket, Congress state vice president Manak Agarwal, has resigned from his post in protest. State vice-president of Congress’ Backward Class cell, Suraj Jaiswal, who was denied candidature from Jabalpur, also resigned from the party and is in the fray as an Independent.
Party leaders feel that those denied tickets will not show their anger openly. “To damage the party’s prospects, they will use influence to dent the performance of the party's candidate. One such seat is Bhojpur from where Suresh Pachouri is contesting,” a party official added.
The BJP, which is fighting anti-incumbency in the state, was forced to take the risk of dropping 45 sitting MLAs. Prominent among those dropped are two from Bhopal, Dhruvnarayan Singh and Jeetendra Daga. Former home minister Himmat Kothari, whose candidature was rejected by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has announced that he will contest the election as an Independent.
Two ministers in Chouhan’s cabinet who were denied tickets, Devi Singh Sayam and Ram Dayal Ahirwal, have publicly expressed their unhappiness. Sayam has resigned and will contest as an Independent.
In Chhattisgarh, the BJP faces a major internal rebellion. Former MP Karuna Shukla has resigned and is now openly canvassing for the Congress candidate. Over the last five days, the BJP expelled 10 senior party leaders including former ministers and MLAs for “anti-party” activities. On Thursday, five rebels including former Bijapur MLA Raja Ram Todem, Bastar BJP Mandal member Ravishankar Shukla, Dhamtari district president Pravat Rao Meghawale, Pannalal Kashyap (Sihawa) and Dhamtari district BJP vice-president Dayaram Sahu were expelled from the party for contesting official nominees.
In Chhattisgarh Congress, the only prominent rebel is former Bastar MP Mankuram Sodhi who sought a ticket for his son, but was denied.
According to Congress sources, one reason not many revolted was the fact that many were told beforehand that they would not get tickets. “They have been assured of key responsibilities once Congress comes into power,” a party official in Raipur said.
