Bhopal: In the ongoing political landscape of Madhya Pradesh, a series of defections and discontent over ticket distribution have dominated the headlines. The most recent development involves the resignation of former minister Rustam Singh from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as he joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The 78-year-old retired Indian Police Service officer cited the “neglect of party workers and rewarding of those involved in anti-party activities” as the reasons behind his resignation. Rustam Singh, known for his influence in the Chambal region, becomes another notable figure to part ways with the BJP, further deepening the party’s internal challenges.
The BJP’s ticket distribution process has drawn substantial criticism, with 32 lawmakers, including three ministers, being denied tickets out of 230 candidates announced. Notably, former home minister Umashankar Gupta’s supporters linked his hospitalization for angioplasty to the BJP denying him a ticket. Approximately 200 BJP members, including three corporators, resigned in protest of Gupta’s treatment. Additionally, denying a ticket to former state BJP chief Nand Kumar Chauhan’s son, Harshvardhan Chauhan, for the Khandwa seat sparked further dissent within the party.
This discontent within the BJP isn’t limited to these instances, as former ministers Ranjana Baghel and Paras Jain, along with former lawmaker Rasal Singh, have also expressed their dissatisfaction. Protests have erupted in at least 20 constituencies, reflecting the scale of internal discord. In a regrettable incident, BJP workers were booked for assaulting a guard of Union Minister and Madhya Pradesh BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav in Jabalpur, during a protest against the candidature of Abhilash Pandey from Jabalpur North.
On the opposition side, the Congress party also faces its share of turmoil. Some of its members, like Ajab Singh Kushwaha and former Member of Parliament Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi, have been expected to contest on a BSP ticket. This shift has not only showcased internal dynamics but also contributed to the broader political turmoil in Madhya Pradesh.
On Monday, Congress workers from Shujalpur and Hoshangabad staged a protest outside Congress president Kamal Nath’s residence in Bhopal, highlighting the emotional atmosphere surrounding the elections.
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