Smaller parties, rebels trouble BJP, Congress in MP's Chhatarpur
BJP and Congress are finding it tougher to sail through on a few seats in Chhatarpur district with the presence of rebels and smaller parties. In 2018, Chhatarpur was the only district where BJP performed badly in Bundelkhand. Out of six seats, four went to Congress and one each was won by BJP and Samajwadi Party.
In 2020, Congress MLA from Malehra constituency Pradyuman Singh Lodhi and Bijawar SP MLA Rajesh Shukla joined the BJP making it three each in Chhatarpur.
The BJP is aiming to retain this number while Congress wants to improve the tally. However, the obstacle for both is coming from rebels and smaller parties. In Bijawar, BJP has fielded MLA Rajesh Shukla while Congress has fielded Charan Singh Yadav.
In these communities, Yadav voters are the largest with 38,000 votes.
A 24-years-old Indrapal Yadav from Kodan village says that in 2018, he voted for SP's Rajesh Shukla. «Since he is with BJP, I will vote for Charan Singh. The Yadav community is siding with Congress this time,» he says.
But here is the twist.
Former BJP MLA Rekha Yadav is contesting on SP ticket to make it difficult for Congress and BJP both. Congress leader Bhuvan Singh Keshu Raja, son of former MLA Bhaiya Raja, is contesting as an independent.
«If Keshu Raja was contesting from Congress, then we would have voted for him. But he doesn't stand a chance as an independent as Thakur votes are lesser.
We will vote for the BJP,» 23 years old Kunwar Ji Raja from Naya Gaon village, tells ET.
On Maharajpur seat, rebel Congress candidate Daulat Tiwari is making the contest triangular. Congress has fielded MLA Neeraj Dixit. BJP has fielded Kamakhya Pratap Singh, son of former MLA Manvendra Singh Bhanwar Raja.
«All candidates are coming to us, but we
