The Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking about a video purportedly featuring its Madhya Pradesh unit chief, Kamal Nath, at an election rally in Chhindwara Sunday.

Nath is a nine-time Lok Sabha MP of the Congress from Chhindwara.

Targeting Nath over a video that went viral on the social media, Modi, in his speech, said the state Congress chief had said the winnability of a candidate was the most important factor for him, rather than whether he was corrupt, a goon or facing criminal cases.

The prime minister went on to ask the gathering, "Should Madhya Pradesh be saved from such people (Congress candidates) or not? Should the state go into such hands?"

Reacting to Modi's speech, the Congress said it had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) about the "doctored and edited" video.

"Narendra Modi, who is holding the top post of prime minister, has dished out lies in Chhindwara on the basis of this doctored video," Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja said.

Seeking an apology from the prime minister, he said the opposition party would also file also a complaint with the EC in this regard (Modi's reference to the video).

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.&nbsp;

The Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking about a video purportedly featuring its Madhya Pradesh unit chief, Kamal Nath, at an election rally in Chhindwara Sunday.

The Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for speaking about a video purportedly featuring its Madhya Pradesh unit chief, Kamal Nath, at an election rally in Chhindwara Sunday. Nath is a nine-time Lok Sabha MP of the Congress from Chhindwara. Targeting Nath over a video that went viral on the social media, Modi, in his speech, said the state Congress chief had said the winnability of a candidate was the most important factor for him, rather than whether he was corrupt, a goon or facing criminal cases. The prime minister went on to ask the gathering, "Should Madhya Pradesh be saved from such people (Congress candidates) or not? Should the state go into such hands?" Reacting to Modi's speech, the Congress said it had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) about the "doctored and edited" video. "Narendra Modi, who is holding the top post of prime minister, has dished out lies in Chhindwara on the basis of this doctored video," Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja said. Seeking an apology from the prime minister, he said the opposition party would also file also a complaint with the EC in this regard (Modi's reference to the video). The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.

Congress hits out at PM for Kamal Nath video reference at poll rally

Roads, power and water are no longer poll issues in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh this time unlike in 2003, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here Sunday.&nbsp;

He was addressing a 'Prabuddhjan Sammelan' (intellectuals' meet) organised by the BJP, which was attended by doctors, lawyers, businessmen and other professionals.

"Sadak, bijli, pani (roads, power, water) are no more issues in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled on November 28," Jaitley said.

"The Assembly elections of 2003 (when the Congress was in power) were fought on three issues, roads, power and water. The condition of roads was very poor then and I was advised by partymen to travel from one district to another by helicopter or train and not by road," he said.

The Union minister said that in fifteen years, the BJP government in the state had improved the quality of roads and strengthened road connectivity, power and water supply.

In agriculture sector, Madhya Pradesh had replaced Punjab and become the "foodgrain bowl" of the country, he said.

The state, under the BJP rule, has shed its "Bimaru" (backward, laggard) tag and become "aspirational", Jaitley said.

He also claimed there was no social or economic discontent in the country. "Had there been discontent, opposition parties would have launched a movement against the government," he said.

Roads, power and water are no longer poll issues in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh this time unlike in 2003, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here Sunday. He was addressing a 'Prabuddhjan Sammelan' (intellectuals' meet) organised by the BJP, which was attended by doctors, lawyers, businessmen and other professionals.

Roads, power and water are no longer poll issues in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh this time unlike in 2003, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here Sunday. He was addressing a 'Prabuddhjan Sammelan' (intellectuals' meet) organised by the BJP, which was attended by doctors, lawyers, businessmen and other professionals. "Sadak, bijli, pani (roads, power, water) are no more issues in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled on November 28," Jaitley said. "The Assembly elections of 2003 (when the Congress was in power) were fought on three issues, roads, power and water. The condition of roads was very poor then and I was advised by partymen to travel from one district to another by helicopter or train and not by road," he said. The Union minister said that in fifteen years, the BJP government in the state had improved the quality of roads and strengthened road connectivity, power and water supply. In agriculture sector, Madhya Pradesh had replaced Punjab and become the "foodgrain bowl" of the country, he said. The state, under the BJP rule, has shed its "Bimaru" (backward, laggard) tag and become "aspirational", Jaitley said. He also claimed there was no social or economic discontent in the country. "Had there been discontent, opposition parties would have launched a movement against the government," he said.

Roads, power, water no issues in MP election: Arun Jaitley

Providing 10 lakh jobs per year to youths in Madhya Pradesh and welfare of all sections of society are among the major promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party in its manifesto for the November 28 assembly elections, which was released here Saturday.

The BJP, which has been ruling the state since 2003, is trying to retain power amid the opposition Congress's allegations of a collapse of governance and its failure to work for agriculturists.

Madhya Pradesh last year witnessed wide-scale protests by farmers for better Minimum Support Price for their produce and other demands, forcing the government to announce a slew of measures.

The manifesto, called as "Drishti Patra" or vision document, was released by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at the state BJP headquarters here.

"We will provide 10 lakh jobs and self employment opportunities per year for the youth of the state," Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters.

Chouhan, accompanied by Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Narendra Singh Tomar, promised to make a provision for free education for the poor.

"We have prepared a roadmap for the development of the state as well as the welfare of each section of the society," he said.

The BJP has promised measures to ensure welfare of farmers, women, backward classes and traders, besides the youth, in the state.

Elections for the 230-member assembly are scheduled to be held on November 28. The results will be declared on December 11. The opposition Congress had released its manifesto 'Vachan Patra' last Saturday.

The Congress promised an 'adhyatmik vibhag' (spiritual department) in the state, as well as plans to promote the Sanskrit language.

The Congress manifesto speaks of developing the 'Ram path', a mythical route taken by Lord Ram during his 14-year exile, and the commercial production of 'gaumutra' (cow urine) and 'kanda' (cowdung cakes).

Providing 10 lakh jobs per year to youths in Madhya Pradesh and welfare of all sections of society are among the major promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party in its manifesto for the November 28 assembly elections, which was released here Saturday.

Providing 10 lakh jobs per year to youths in Madhya Pradesh and welfare of all sections of society are among the major promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party in its manifesto for the November 28 assembly elections, which was released here Saturday. The BJP, which has been ruling the state since 2003, is trying to retain power amid the opposition Congress's allegations of a collapse of governance and its failure to work for agriculturists. Madhya Pradesh last year witnessed wide-scale protests by farmers for better Minimum Support Price for their produce and other demands, forcing the government to announce a slew of measures. The manifesto, called as "Drishti Patra" or vision document, was released by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at the state BJP headquarters here. "We will provide 10 lakh jobs and self employment opportunities per year for the youth of the state," Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters. Chouhan, accompanied by Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Narendra Singh Tomar, promised to make a provision for free education for the poor. "We have prepared a roadmap for the development of the state as well as the welfare of each section of the society," he said. The BJP has promised measures to ensure welfare of farmers, women, backward classes and traders, besides the youth, in the state. Elections for the 230-member assembly are scheduled to be held on November 28. The results will be declared on December 11. The opposition Congress had released its manifesto 'Vachan Patra' last Saturday. The Congress promised an 'adhyatmik vibhag' (spiritual department) in the state, as well as plans to promote the Sanskrit language. The Congress manifesto speaks of developing the 'Ram path', a mythical route taken by Lord Ram during his 14-year exile, and the commercial production of 'gaumutra' (cow urine) and 'kanda' (cowdung cakes).

Madhya Pradesh polls: BJP releases manifesto, promises 10 lakh jobs annually

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will crisscross poll-bound Madhya Pradesh from Friday starting with a public meeting in Shahdol district, over 500 kilometres from Bhopal, a senior BJP functionary said Thursday.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Congress President Rahul Gandhi to hold public rallies in Madhya Pradesh, later in the day. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradeshElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradeshElections2018</a>(File pics) <a href="https://t.co/2cdmRPoeoM">pic.twitter.com/2cdmRPoeoM</a>
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The prime minister will address two public meetings, mostly on alternate days, starting Friday, state BJP chief Rakesh Singh said.

After the rally at Shahdol Friday, Modi will be in Gwalior to address another rally before flying back to Delhi, Singh informed.

He will return and address public meetings in Chhindwara and Indore on Sunday before returning to Delhi, Singh added.

The prime minister will again visit Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday and address public meetings in Jhabua and Rewa districts.

Three days later, on Saturday, Modi will return to the state and address public meetings in Mandsaur and Chhattarpur districts, Singh said.

The next day (November 25), he will deliver speeches in Vidisha and Jabalpur districts, he added.

MP BJP spokesperson Anil Soumitra said PM Modi was a charismatic leader and his visits to MP will immensely benefit the party which he claimed will win over 200 assembly seats out of 230 in the state.

Meanwhile, MP Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi claimed Modi's visit won't have any impact, adding that the state government was facing a strong anti-incumbency wave.

He claimed the Congress was set to sweep the Assembly polls scheduled for November 28.

The results will be declared on December 11.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will crisscross poll-bound Madhya Pradesh from Friday starting with a public meeting in Shahdol district, over 500 kilometres from Bhopal, a senior BJP functionary said Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will crisscross poll-bound Madhya Pradesh from Friday starting with a public meeting in Shahdol district, over 500 kilometres from Bhopal, a senior BJP functionary said Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and Congress President Rahul Gandhi to hold public rallies in Madhya Pradesh, later in the day. #MadhyaPradeshElections2018(File pics) pic.twitter.com/2cdmRPoeoM — ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2018 × The prime minister will address two public meetings, mostly on alternate days, starting Friday, state BJP chief Rakesh Singh said. After the rally at Shahdol Friday, Modi will be in Gwalior to address another rally before flying back to Delhi, Singh informed. He will return and address public meetings in Chhindwara and Indore on Sunday before returning to Delhi, Singh added. The prime minister will again visit Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday and address public meetings in Jhabua and Rewa districts. Three days later, on Saturday, Modi will return to the state and address public meetings in Mandsaur and Chhattarpur districts, Singh said. The next day (November 25), he will deliver speeches in Vidisha and Jabalpur districts, he added. MP BJP spokesperson Anil Soumitra said PM Modi was a charismatic leader and his visits to MP will immensely benefit the party which he claimed will win over 200 assembly seats out of 230 in the state. Meanwhile, MP Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi claimed Modi's visit won't have any impact, adding that the state government was facing a strong anti-incumbency wave. He claimed the Congress was set to sweep the Assembly polls scheduled for November 28. The results will be declared on December 11.

PM Narendra Modi to address rallies today in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called the Congress party a "manufacturer of lies".

The Prime Minister while addressing an election rally here said, "These elections are not about who would win or who would not win. These elections are about welfare of people of Madhya Pradesh."

"What did the four generations of a party do for our country? However, a tea-seller, did what not in just four years? "he added.

Underlining the initiatives taken by the Madhya Pradesh Government-led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the past 15 years, the Prime Minister said that the Congress would never speak of the good work Chouhan did during his three tenures.

He said that the Congress party was in power in Madhya Pradesh for so long, but did not do anything for the development of the people. One cannot draw a comparison between the development work done by the Congress party and the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.

"How can anyone trust Congress? When they were in power in MP and Chhattisgarh, they did not fulfill even what they had promised in their election manifesto," he added.

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly will go to polls on November 28 and the counting will be held on December 11.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called the Congress party a "manufacturer of lies". The Prime Minister while addressing an election rally here said, "These elections are not about who would win or who would not win.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called the Congress party a "manufacturer of lies". The Prime Minister while addressing an election rally here said, "These elections are not about who would win or who would not win. These elections are about welfare of people of Madhya Pradesh." "What did the four generations of a party do for our country? However, a tea-seller, did what not in just four years? "he added. Underlining the initiatives taken by the Madhya Pradesh Government-led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the past 15 years, the Prime Minister said that the Congress would never speak of the good work Chouhan did during his three tenures. He said that the Congress party was in power in Madhya Pradesh for so long, but did not do anything for the development of the people. One cannot draw a comparison between the development work done by the Congress party and the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. "How can anyone trust Congress? When they were in power in MP and Chhattisgarh, they did not fulfill even what they had promised in their election manifesto," he added. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly will go to polls on November 28 and the counting will be held on December 11.

Congress a manufacturer of lies: PM Modi in Madhya Pradesh

BJP president Amit Shah Friday said the Congress did not care about the nation's security when it "ruled India for 70 years", adding securing the borders was a major achievement of the Modi-led government.

Addressing a poll rally, Shah credited the Modi government with giving impetus to boosting the country's security.

"When the Congress was in power and Manmohan Singh was the prime minister, Pakistani terrorists used to infiltrate, explode bombs and go back," he said.There was anger across the country after the 2016 Uri attack in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed. But this was not the regime of Mauni Baba (Manmohan Singh). Modi ji ordered our jawans to conduct surgical strikes and take revenge," Shah said.

"The Congress did not care about the country's security for 70 years when it was in power, but bothered only about their vote banks. For us, security is more precious than our own lives," he said.

Shah said the difference between the BJP and the Congress is that if one wants to become the prime minister or the president of the Congress, "they have to take birth in the Nehru-Gandhi family while in the BJP, one can rise to the top based on abilities even after being born in a poor family".

"An example of this is Narendra Modi, who was born in a tea seller's family but is now the prime minister. Shivraj Singh (Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan), who took birth in a poor family of farmers, is working from the last 15 years to develop Madhya Pradesh," he said.

"One does not need to have a family to work and go ahead in the BJP. What is needed is the ability and resolve to serve people," he said.

Shah sought to know who was the "senapati" (army chief) of the opposition party in Madhya Pradesh poll arena. There is only a Raja (Digvijay Singh), a maharaja (Jyotiraditya Scindia), and an industrialist (Kamal Nath) and the Congress is fighting polls on their strength," he said.

"Congress had left Madhya Pradesh as one of the most backward states but I can proudly say today that Shivraj Singh has made it into a developed state," he said.

"The 'Maharaja' (Scindia) asks what has Modi done for Madhya Pradesh, but does not know how much has the state changed. This is because he does not step out of his palace in Gwalior," Shah said.

"He (Scindia) does not know what benefits the poor farmers received. I want to ask the Congress president, what did he give Madhya Pradesh for 10 years when the UPA was in power at the Centre," Shah said.

The 13th Finance Commission under the UPA regime gave the state 1,34,190 crore, but the 14th Finance Commission, under the Modi government allocated it Rs 3,44,126 crore, the BJP chief said.

BJP president Amit Shah Friday said the Congress did not care about the nation's security when it "ruled India for 70 years", adding securing the borders was a major achievement of the Modi-led government.

BJP president Amit Shah Friday said the Congress did not care about the nation's security when it "ruled India for 70 years", adding securing the borders was a major achievement of the Modi-led government. Addressing a poll rally, Shah credited the Modi government with giving impetus to boosting the country's security. "When the Congress was in power and Manmohan Singh was the prime minister, Pakistani terrorists used to infiltrate, explode bombs and go back," he said.There was anger across the country after the 2016 Uri attack in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed. But this was not the regime of Mauni Baba (Manmohan Singh). Modi ji ordered our jawans to conduct surgical strikes and take revenge," Shah said. "The Congress did not care about the country's security for 70 years when it was in power, but bothered only about their vote banks. For us, security is more precious than our own lives," he said. Shah said the difference between the BJP and the Congress is that if one wants to become the prime minister or the president of the Congress, "they have to take birth in the Nehru-Gandhi family while in the BJP, one can rise to the top based on abilities even after being born in a poor family". "An example of this is Narendra Modi, who was born in a tea seller's family but is now the prime minister. Shivraj Singh (Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan), who took birth in a poor family of farmers, is working from the last 15 years to develop Madhya Pradesh," he said. "One does not need to have a family to work and go ahead in the BJP. What is needed is the ability and resolve to serve people," he said. Shah sought to know who was the "senapati" (army chief) of the opposition party in Madhya Pradesh poll arena. There is only a Raja (Digvijay Singh), a maharaja (Jyotiraditya Scindia), and an industrialist (Kamal Nath) and the Congress is fighting polls on their strength," he said. "Congress had left Madhya Pradesh as one of the most backward states but I can proudly say today that Shivraj Singh has made it into a developed state," he said. "The 'Maharaja' (Scindia) asks what has Modi done for Madhya Pradesh, but does not know how much has the state changed. This is because he does not step out of his palace in Gwalior," Shah said. "He (Scindia) does not know what benefits the poor farmers received. I want to ask the Congress president, what did he give Madhya Pradesh for 10 years when the UPA was in power at the Centre," Shah said. The 13th Finance Commission under the UPA regime gave the state 1,34,190 crore, but the 14th Finance Commission, under the Modi government allocated it Rs 3,44,126 crore, the BJP chief said.

Congress didn't care for nation's security when it ruled: Amit Shah

The Income Tax Department has busted a Hawala racket and recovered documents with transaction details of more than Rs 500 crore in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur city.

The details were recovered during raids conducted at multiple locations in the last two days.

As per sources, the IT department conducted raids at 17 different locations in the state. During the raids, the IT department recovered undisclosed property of Rs 3.5 crore and Rs 60 lakh worth of cash belonging to a businessman in Jabalpur.

Investigation in the matter is underway. A political angle is also being probed by the IT department.

Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 28 to elect members to 230 constituencies. Results will be declared on December 11.

The Income Tax Department has busted a Hawala racket and recovered documents with transaction details of more than Rs 500 crore in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur city.

The Income Tax Department has busted a Hawala racket and recovered documents with transaction details of more than Rs 500 crore in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur city. The details were recovered during raids conducted at multiple locations in the last two days. As per sources, the IT department conducted raids at 17 different locations in the state. During the raids, the IT department recovered undisclosed property of Rs 3.5 crore and Rs 60 lakh worth of cash belonging to a businessman in Jabalpur. Investigation in the matter is underway. A political angle is also being probed by the IT department. Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 28 to elect members to 230 constituencies. Results will be declared on December 11.

Rs 500 crore hawala cash documents recovered in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress.&nbsp;

Just like its treacherous hill roads, the region is expected to see an interesting poll battle.

Some leaders claim that non-BJP parties have even resorted to 'friendly fights' on some seats to stop the saffron party from taking advantage of non-consolidation of votes for a joint opposition candidate due to complex caste equations in the area dominated by Dalits and other backward castes.

Given the geographical and cultural proximity of over two dozen assembly seats in this area to the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, two key political parties with a strong presence in the state across the border -- Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- are leaving no stones unturned in challenging the ruling BJP.

The four bordering districts of Bundelkhand region -- Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna -- and two districts of Chambal Zone -- Datia and Shivpuri -- together send 30 MLAs to the Madhya Pradesh assembly. Out of this, the BJP has got 22 and the Congress has 8 seats in the outgoing assembly.

As the election campaign heats up for the November 28 elections across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where BJP has been in power for 15 years thwarting every challenge so far from the Congress, the observers feel it may not be a traditional direct fight between these two parties in the areas along the UP border.

The reasons cited by poll pundits range from caste equations to cultural and social influence of the neighbouring areas from Uttar Pradesh, as also a strong campaign being mounted by the SP and the BSP and what many political leaders call an 'undeclared understanding' these two parties have reached with the Congress to take on the saffron party unitedly without forging a "visible alliance".

The opposition leaders insist that the anti-incumbency factor against the 15-year BJP rule is much more prominent in the Bundelkhand region, as compared to the rest of Madhya Pradesh, being far off from the state capital Bhopal. Also, the region has larger dominance of the SC/ST and other backward classes.

Datia MLA Narottam Mishra, a prominent minister in the Shivraj Singh government, however, rejected the anti-incumbency factor, citing the development work done by the BJP Government.&nbsp;

Mishra said the election is going to be rather easy this time, compared to the last three assembly polls, as "historical development work" has been done by the state government in the Bundelkhand region.

He also dismissed any challenge from the 'joint' opposition challenge and said none of these parties would be visible after elections.

Mishra said these parties tried a similar strategy in last elections but voters rejected their "gimmicks" and voted for development schemes of the BJP government that helps all sections of the society.&nbsp;

He further said people in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh are also praising the developmental work done in Bundelkhand and it is the rejected leaders of the SP and the BSP from Uttar Pradesh who are looking for a political future in Madhya Pradesh through this region.&nbsp;

The SP is focussing on all six districts of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh (which include Damoh and Datia also) and the BSP has fielded candidates in the Chambal and Vindhya regions also, along with the Bundelkhand region.&nbsp;

The BSP has four MLAs in the outgoing assembly -- two from Satna district in Vindhya area and two from Morena district of Chambal area.&nbsp;

The party has given a ticket to all four sitting MLAs and two former MLAs too. The SP has fielded a former MLA from Niwari constituency in the Tikamgarh district.&nbsp;

BSP's Bundelkhand in-charge Mukesh Ahirwar said the party is contesting all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

He said the party is in a strong position in Bundelkhand, therefore, a key focus area.

BSP president Mayawati will start a poll campaign on November 21 from Morena and will address public rallies over two days in Bundelkhand, Chambal and Vindhya region, Ahirwar said.

A senior SP leader said the party's main focus is to defeat the BJP, for which it has an understanding with the Congress and BSP for some seats, asserting a formal alliance was not preferable due to complex caste equations of the area.&nbsp;

He said a joint candidate against the BJP on all seats would have actually benefited the saffron party and therefore they have opted for a "friendly fight".

Balakram Yadav, a senior leader of Congress party's Bundelkhand unit, said he is confident of a "strategic success" in these elections.&nbsp;

He said the over-confidence of the ruling BJP would prove to be detrimental for the saffron party and the people's anger will reflect in their votes.

Rejecting the BJP's claims of development works in the region, Yadav said they were limited to a few cities and the farmers are facing a major crisis in the agriculture-dominated rural areas of Bundelkhand region due to drought and fuel price hike while youths are being compelled to migrate because of unemployment.

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress.

It's not only the geographical and social features that sets the Bundelkhand region apart from the rest of Madhya Pradesh, leaders believe the electoral politics is also much different here with the fight not being limited to the arch-rivals BJP and Congress. Just like its treacherous hill roads, the region is expected to see an interesting poll battle. Some leaders claim that non-BJP parties have even resorted to 'friendly fights' on some seats to stop the saffron party from taking advantage of non-consolidation of votes for a joint opposition candidate due to complex caste equations in the area dominated by Dalits and other backward castes. Given the geographical and cultural proximity of over two dozen assembly seats in this area to the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, two key political parties with a strong presence in the state across the border -- Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party -- are leaving no stones unturned in challenging the ruling BJP. The four bordering districts of Bundelkhand region -- Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Panna -- and two districts of Chambal Zone -- Datia and Shivpuri -- together send 30 MLAs to the Madhya Pradesh assembly. Out of this, the BJP has got 22 and the Congress has 8 seats in the outgoing assembly. As the election campaign heats up for the November 28 elections across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, where BJP has been in power for 15 years thwarting every challenge so far from the Congress, the observers feel it may not be a traditional direct fight between these two parties in the areas along the UP border. The reasons cited by poll pundits range from caste equations to cultural and social influence of the neighbouring areas from Uttar Pradesh, as also a strong campaign being mounted by the SP and the BSP and what many political leaders call an 'undeclared understanding' these two parties have reached with the Congress to take on the saffron party unitedly without forging a "visible alliance". The opposition leaders insist that the anti-incumbency factor against the 15-year BJP rule is much more prominent in the Bundelkhand region, as compared to the rest of Madhya Pradesh, being far off from the state capital Bhopal. Also, the region has larger dominance of the SC/ST and other backward classes. Datia MLA Narottam Mishra, a prominent minister in the Shivraj Singh government, however, rejected the anti-incumbency factor, citing the development work done by the BJP Government. Mishra said the election is going to be rather easy this time, compared to the last three assembly polls, as "historical development work" has been done by the state government in the Bundelkhand region. He also dismissed any challenge from the 'joint' opposition challenge and said none of these parties would be visible after elections. Mishra said these parties tried a similar strategy in last elections but voters rejected their "gimmicks" and voted for development schemes of the BJP government that helps all sections of the society. He further said people in the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh are also praising the developmental work done in Bundelkhand and it is the rejected leaders of the SP and the BSP from Uttar Pradesh who are looking for a political future in Madhya Pradesh through this region. The SP is focussing on all six districts of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh (which include Damoh and Datia also) and the BSP has fielded candidates in the Chambal and Vindhya regions also, along with the Bundelkhand region. The BSP has four MLAs in the outgoing assembly -- two from Satna district in Vindhya area and two from Morena district of Chambal area. The party has given a ticket to all four sitting MLAs and two former MLAs too. The SP has fielded a former MLA from Niwari constituency in the Tikamgarh district. BSP's Bundelkhand in-charge Mukesh Ahirwar said the party is contesting all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. He said the party is in a strong position in Bundelkhand, therefore, a key focus area. BSP president Mayawati will start a poll campaign on November 21 from Morena and will address public rallies over two days in Bundelkhand, Chambal and Vindhya region, Ahirwar said. A senior SP leader said the party's main focus is to defeat the BJP, for which it has an understanding with the Congress and BSP for some seats, asserting a formal alliance was not preferable due to complex caste equations of the area. He said a joint candidate against the BJP on all seats would have actually benefited the saffron party and therefore they have opted for a "friendly fight". Balakram Yadav, a senior leader of Congress party's Bundelkhand unit, said he is confident of a "strategic success" in these elections. He said the over-confidence of the ruling BJP would prove to be detrimental for the saffron party and the people's anger will reflect in their votes. Rejecting the BJP's claims of development works in the region, Yadav said they were limited to a few cities and the farmers are facing a major crisis in the agriculture-dominated rural areas of Bundelkhand region due to drought and fuel price hike while youths are being compelled to migrate because of unemployment.

Madhya Pradesh: No straight fight for Cong, BJP in Bundelkhand; SP, BSP add new twists and turns

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday launched an attack on the Congress stating that the party only releases manifestos but never fulfils its promises, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

CM Chouhan's comments came shortly after the Congress released its manifesto for the poll-bound state.&nbsp;

"Congress today released its election manifesto, they only release manifestos but never fulfils them," the Chief Minister said.&nbsp;

He added that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had promised to alleviate poverty but didn't do it.&nbsp;

"Even Indira ji and Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan PM Modi that is why Congress is angry," Chouhan noted during his address in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

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Congress today released its election manifesto,they only release manifestos but never fulfil them. Even Indira ji&amp;Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan&amp;PM Modi that is why Congress is angry: MP CM in Anuppur <a href="https://t.co/a91WfauTen">pic.twitter.com/a91WfauTen</a>
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Rahul Gandhi-led <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-releases-manifesto-for-mp-polls-woos-farmers-youth-176551">Congress party on Saturday released its manifesto</a> for the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. The party promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh.

The main opposition party also promised a host of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is eyeing a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh."

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28, the results will be announced on December 11.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday launched an attack on the Congress stating that the party only releases manifestos but never fulfils its promises, news agency ANI reported.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday launched an attack on the Congress stating that the party only releases manifestos but never fulfils its promises, news agency ANI reported. CM Chouhan's comments came shortly after the Congress released its manifesto for the poll-bound state. "Congress today released its election manifesto, they only release manifestos but never fulfils them," the Chief Minister said. He added that former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had promised to alleviate poverty but didn't do it. "Even Indira ji and Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan PM Modi that is why Congress is angry," Chouhan noted during his address in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh. Congress today released its election manifesto,they only release manifestos but never fulfil them. Even Indira ji&Rajiv ji had promised to remove poverty but didn't do it. Their promise was fulfilled by Shivraj Singh Chouhan&PM Modi that is why Congress is angry: MP CM in Anuppur pic.twitter.com/a91WfauTen — ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2018 × Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party on Saturday released its manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. The party promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh. The main opposition party also promised a host of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is eyeing a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power, news agency PTI reported. Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh." The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28, the results will be announced on December 11. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress only releases manifestos, never fulfils them: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The Congress Saturday promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh.

Releasing its manifesto for the November 28 Assembly polls, the main opposition party also promised a slew of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is making a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power.

Aggressively wooing farmers, who had launched a statewide protest last year, the party promised a social security pension to them and a rebate in the registration fee of land documents, besides a financial help of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of daughters of small cultivators.

In its manifesto titled "Vachan Patra" (document of promises), the Rahul Gandhi-led party, out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, also promised a minimum support price (MSP) for crops in accordance with the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh", saying the document was prepared after consultations with every section of the society.

The manifesto offers sops to every section of the society, including government employees, homemakers, the common people, women and journalists, but the focus is largely on farmers and young people.

Among the plethora of measures for farmers mentioned in the document, the Congress has promised a social security pension of Rs 1,000 per month to farmers who attain the age of 60 and whose land holding is below 2.5 acres, besides writing off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh.

Other sops promised to farmers include a 50-per cent subsidy on loans for agriculture equipment, halving the power bill rates for them, a bonus on the MSP of some crops and a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre on milk procurement among others.

The opposition party also promised a re-investigation into the Mandsaur police firing incident, in which six farmers were killed in June, 2017. 
It also promised a rebate in diesel and petrol prices.

Professionals like tourist guides and lawyers would be provided an "encouragement fee" of Rs 4,000 per month for five years for settling down in their respective professions.

The Congress also promised a "salary grant" of Rs 10,000 per job to the industries offering employment to the youth of the state.

It promised the constitution of a Yuva Aayog (Commission for the Youth) to look into the problems of young men and women.

The Congress also promised several sops, including a rebate in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and subsidised loans for setting up industries with an investment of at least Rs 100 crore.

Those covered under the existing social security pension scheme would get Rs 1,000 per month, instead of Rs 300 now, if the Congress was elected to power in the state, according to the document.

A subsidy of Rs 100 on gas cylinders to poor families and free education to girls up to the post-graduation level were also promised by the party.

In a bid to appease the agitating general category people, the opposition party promised the constitution of a Samanya Varg Ayog (General Category Commission) to look into their issues.

The state recently saw a series of protests by people from the unreserved (general) category communities.

Besides, the Congress promised regularisation of daily wagers, 30 per cent government contracts to tribals, setting up of a Senior Citizen Board, a law to protect journalists and lawyers, honorarium to journalists above 60 years of age, tele-medicine facility in rural areas and four new medical colleges.

Nath said a Jan Aayog (People's Commission) would be constituted for investigations into scams like Vyapam.

A "jan jababdeh kanoon (public accountability law) would be enacted to hold the government departments responsible for providing public amenities, he added. The manifesto has 973 points on 50 subjects.

State Congress Campaign Committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia and former chief minister Digvijay Singh were also present at the press meet.

Taking potshots at the BJP, Scindia said the Congress's manifesto was not like the saffron outfit's "jumla patra" (document of rhetoric) as the party would honour every promise made in the document.

"We are bringing a vachan patra and not a jumla patra like the BJP. Our document of promises has something for everybody," the former Union minister said.

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.

The Congress Saturday promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress Saturday promised to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh and provide a "salary grant" for five years to industries offering jobs to the youth if elected to power in Madhya Pradesh. Releasing its manifesto for the November 28 Assembly polls, the main opposition party also promised a slew of benefits for other sections of the society in the state where it is making a renewed bid to dislodge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power. Aggressively wooing farmers, who had launched a statewide protest last year, the party promised a social security pension to them and a rebate in the registration fee of land documents, besides a financial help of Rs 51,000 for the marriage of daughters of small cultivators. In its manifesto titled "Vachan Patra" (document of promises), the Rahul Gandhi-led party, out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, also promised a minimum support price (MSP) for crops in accordance with the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations. Releasing the 112-page manifesto at a press meet here, state Congress chief Kamal Nath described it as the "voice of the people of Madhya Pradesh", saying the document was prepared after consultations with every section of the society. The manifesto offers sops to every section of the society, including government employees, homemakers, the common people, women and journalists, but the focus is largely on farmers and young people. Among the plethora of measures for farmers mentioned in the document, the Congress has promised a social security pension of Rs 1,000 per month to farmers who attain the age of 60 and whose land holding is below 2.5 acres, besides writing off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh. Other sops promised to farmers include a 50-per cent subsidy on loans for agriculture equipment, halving the power bill rates for them, a bonus on the MSP of some crops and a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre on milk procurement among others. The opposition party also promised a re-investigation into the Mandsaur police firing incident, in which six farmers were killed in June, 2017. It also promised a rebate in diesel and petrol prices. Professionals like tourist guides and lawyers would be provided an "encouragement fee" of Rs 4,000 per month for five years for settling down in their respective professions. The Congress also promised a "salary grant" of Rs 10,000 per job to the industries offering employment to the youth of the state. It promised the constitution of a Yuva Aayog (Commission for the Youth) to look into the problems of young men and women. The Congress also promised several sops, including a rebate in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and subsidised loans for setting up industries with an investment of at least Rs 100 crore. Those covered under the existing social security pension scheme would get Rs 1,000 per month, instead of Rs 300 now, if the Congress was elected to power in the state, according to the document. A subsidy of Rs 100 on gas cylinders to poor families and free education to girls up to the post-graduation level were also promised by the party. In a bid to appease the agitating general category people, the opposition party promised the constitution of a Samanya Varg Ayog (General Category Commission) to look into their issues. The state recently saw a series of protests by people from the unreserved (general) category communities. Besides, the Congress promised regularisation of daily wagers, 30 per cent government contracts to tribals, setting up of a Senior Citizen Board, a law to protect journalists and lawyers, honorarium to journalists above 60 years of age, tele-medicine facility in rural areas and four new medical colleges. Nath said a Jan Aayog (People's Commission) would be constituted for investigations into scams like Vyapam. A "jan jababdeh kanoon (public accountability law) would be enacted to hold the government departments responsible for providing public amenities, he added. The manifesto has 973 points on 50 subjects. State Congress Campaign Committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia and former chief minister Digvijay Singh were also present at the press meet. Taking potshots at the BJP, Scindia said the Congress's manifesto was not like the saffron outfit's "jumla patra" (document of rhetoric) as the party would honour every promise made in the document. "We are bringing a vachan patra and not a jumla patra like the BJP. Our document of promises has something for everybody," the former Union minister said. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.

Congress releases manifesto for MP polls; woos farmers, youth

The war of words between the BJP and the Congress has intensified ahead of the November 28 polling in Madhya Pradesh with both parties raising a range of issues to attack each other.

While the Congress accused the BJP of raking up the issues of Pakistan and Ram temple to ward off an impending electoral defeat, the ruling party said the main opposition outfit is feeling like a "fish out of water" since it lost power in Madhya Pradesh 15 years ago.

Talking to reporters at Indore Friday, Congress national spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad said the BJP starts taking the name of Pakistan whenever it senses defeat in elections.

It also starts doing politics in the name of Lord Rama when elections are just around the corner, he said.

Asked about the Congress' stand on the Ram temple issue, he said, "This matter is being heard at the Supreme Court. We will surely react if Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes any statement about the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya."

The Congress leader said, "If the BJP government at the Centre wants to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya then why it is not brining an ordinance? &nbsp;This government is only trying to deceive people in the name of Lord Rama."

Ahmad said India's key defence needs were ignored in the controversial Rafale deal.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Minority Affairs and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi hit out at the Congress.

Talking to journalists at Mandsaur while accompanying local BJP candidate Yashpal Singh Sisodiya for filing his nomination papers, Naqvi said the Congress feels restless when out of power and flutters like a "fish out of water".

Accusing the Congress of engaging in corruption and running governments in a dictatorial manner, Naqvi said the Rahul Gandhi-led party is spreading canards about Prime Minister Narendra and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Taking potshots at Congress and opposition leaders, Naqvi said there are two dozen candidates for the posts of prime minister and Madhya Pradesh chief minister, but there is no vacancy for these top positions.

Union minister and BJP leader Suresh Prabhu said the Congress is running out of ideas in elections and hence it is doing politics on the country's security.

He accompanied local BJP candidate Devendra Verma at Khandwa in a rally to file his nomination papers.

Prabhu said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has given answers of all questions related to the Rafale fighter jet deal.

There should be no politics on the issue of country's defence and security, Prabhu said.

All the BJP candidates contesting from assembly seats in Bhopal district reached the returning officer's office in a rally to file their nomination papers.

These candidates offered prayers at a temple in Bhopal's Somwara Chowk along with Chief Minister Chouhan before taking out the rally.&nbsp;

The war of words between the BJP and the Congress has intensified ahead of the November 28 polling in Madhya Pradesh with both parties raising a range of issues to attack each other.

The war of words between the BJP and the Congress has intensified ahead of the November 28 polling in Madhya Pradesh with both parties raising a range of issues to attack each other. While the Congress accused the BJP of raking up the issues of Pakistan and Ram temple to ward off an impending electoral defeat, the ruling party said the main opposition outfit is feeling like a "fish out of water" since it lost power in Madhya Pradesh 15 years ago. Talking to reporters at Indore Friday, Congress national spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad said the BJP starts taking the name of Pakistan whenever it senses defeat in elections. It also starts doing politics in the name of Lord Rama when elections are just around the corner, he said. Asked about the Congress' stand on the Ram temple issue, he said, "This matter is being heard at the Supreme Court. We will surely react if Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes any statement about the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya." The Congress leader said, "If the BJP government at the Centre wants to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya then why it is not brining an ordinance? This government is only trying to deceive people in the name of Lord Rama." Ahmad said India's key defence needs were ignored in the controversial Rafale deal. Meanwhile, Union Minister for Minority Affairs and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi hit out at the Congress. Talking to journalists at Mandsaur while accompanying local BJP candidate Yashpal Singh Sisodiya for filing his nomination papers, Naqvi said the Congress feels restless when out of power and flutters like a "fish out of water". Accusing the Congress of engaging in corruption and running governments in a dictatorial manner, Naqvi said the Rahul Gandhi-led party is spreading canards about Prime Minister Narendra and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Taking potshots at Congress and opposition leaders, Naqvi said there are two dozen candidates for the posts of prime minister and Madhya Pradesh chief minister, but there is no vacancy for these top positions. Union minister and BJP leader Suresh Prabhu said the Congress is running out of ideas in elections and hence it is doing politics on the country's security. He accompanied local BJP candidate Devendra Verma at Khandwa in a rally to file his nomination papers. Prabhu said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has given answers of all questions related to the Rafale fighter jet deal. There should be no politics on the issue of country's defence and security, Prabhu said. All the BJP candidates contesting from assembly seats in Bhopal district reached the returning officer's office in a rally to file their nomination papers. These candidates offered prayers at a temple in Bhopal's Somwara Chowk along with Chief Minister Chouhan before taking out the rally.

Madhya Pradesh polls: BJP, Congress trade charges ahead of November 28 election

A total of 2,800 nominations have been filed for the 230 seats of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded its candidates from all the assembly seats, Congress announced its candidates only from 229 seats and left a seat for Sharad Yadav`s Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

The filing of nominations for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections ended on Friday.

A total of 162 nominations were filed from Rewa assembly constituency, while 156 from Satna.

This time, the BJP has fielded Usha Thakur from Mhow assembly constituency. Earlier, party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya used to contest from this seat.

Opposing Thakur`s nomination from the seat, five BJP leaders from the area have filed independent nomination from the seat.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders Nasir Islam and Sajid Ali have also filed nomination as independent candidates.

Madhya Pradesh is slated to go on polls on November 28, while counting of votes will be held on December 11.&nbsp;

A total of 2,800 nominations have been filed for the 230 seats of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded its candidates from all the assembly seats, Congress announced its candidates only from 229 seats and left a seat for Sharad Yadav`s Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

A total of 2,800 nominations have been filed for the 230 seats of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded its candidates from all the assembly seats, Congress announced its candidates only from 229 seats and left a seat for Sharad Yadav`s Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. The filing of nominations for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections ended on Friday. A total of 162 nominations were filed from Rewa assembly constituency, while 156 from Satna. This time, the BJP has fielded Usha Thakur from Mhow assembly constituency. Earlier, party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya used to contest from this seat. Opposing Thakur`s nomination from the seat, five BJP leaders from the area have filed independent nomination from the seat. Meanwhile, Congress leaders Nasir Islam and Sajid Ali have also filed nomination as independent candidates. Madhya Pradesh is slated to go on polls on November 28, while counting of votes will be held on December 11.

Madhya Pradesh polls: 2,800 nominations filed for 230 seats

Ramkrishna Kusmaria, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a former minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government in Madhya Pradesh, has expressed discontent over the ticket distribution process and claimed that the party does not respect elderly people, similar to the manner in which Mughal ruler Aurangzeb imprisoned his father.

Kusmaria, a former agriculture minister and the president of Bundelkhand Development Corporation, said "I don`t understand what the problem is in giving tickets to the elderly. I believe that BJP is acting like how Aurangzeb had imprisoned his father and ruled. This is what they are doing now. Is this the way how to treat elderly people? The party needs to respect such people."

The BJP leader added that the people wanted him to be elected from Damoh constituency, asserting that the development works would be expedited.

He further alleged that the BJP ignored his demand for a ticket to contest from Damoh, and therefore, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate on Friday.

"People are demanding that if you win, then the development works, which were stalled previously, would be completed soon. The previous legislator (from Damoh) did not pay heed. I am feeling suffocated now over the ticket distribution issue." Kusmaria said.

He further said that the Congress party was in touch with him, adding that "anything can happen" in the run-up to the polls.

Kusmaria is a five-time Member of Parliament (MP) and has been a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Damoh thrice.

In the last assembly elections in 2013, the BJP had transferred him from Damoh district to Rajnagar assembly seat in Chhattarpur district, but he lost from there.

Madhya Pradesh is slated to go on polls on November 28, while counting of votes will be held on December 11.

Ramkrishna Kusmaria, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a former minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government in Madhya Pradesh, has expressed discontent over the ticket distribution process and claimed that the party does not respect elderly people, similar to the manner in which Mughal ruler Aurangzeb imprisoned his father.

Ramkrishna Kusmaria, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and a former minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government in Madhya Pradesh, has expressed discontent over the ticket distribution process and claimed that the party does not respect elderly people, similar to the manner in which Mughal ruler Aurangzeb imprisoned his father. Kusmaria, a former agriculture minister and the president of Bundelkhand Development Corporation, said "I don`t understand what the problem is in giving tickets to the elderly. I believe that BJP is acting like how Aurangzeb had imprisoned his father and ruled. This is what they are doing now. Is this the way how to treat elderly people? The party needs to respect such people." The BJP leader added that the people wanted him to be elected from Damoh constituency, asserting that the development works would be expedited. He further alleged that the BJP ignored his demand for a ticket to contest from Damoh, and therefore, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate on Friday. "People are demanding that if you win, then the development works, which were stalled previously, would be completed soon. The previous legislator (from Damoh) did not pay heed. I am feeling suffocated now over the ticket distribution issue." Kusmaria said. He further said that the Congress party was in touch with him, adding that "anything can happen" in the run-up to the polls. Kusmaria is a five-time Member of Parliament (MP) and has been a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Damoh thrice. In the last assembly elections in 2013, the BJP had transferred him from Damoh district to Rajnagar assembly seat in Chhattarpur district, but he lost from there. Madhya Pradesh is slated to go on polls on November 28, while counting of votes will be held on December 11.

MP: Irked by ticket distribution, BJP leader compares party to Aurangzeb's rule

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Sartaj Singh Thursday switched over to the Congress after his name did not figure in the ruling party's third list for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.

Singh, two-time MLA from Seoni-Malwa who wept openly after the BJP snub, was immediately named as the Congress' nominee for the Hoshangabad Assembly seat in the opposition party's fifth list comprising 16 candidates.

Singh holds sway in the Hoshangabad region and had defeated late Congress stalwart Arjun Singh from there in 1998.

"I am grateful to the Congress for nominating me from Hoshangabad. I had been with the saffron family for 58 long years. The BJP denied me a ticket. I want to be in the midst of the people so I am contesting elections," Singh told PTI over phone.

"I don't want to sit at home and confine myself to counting prayer beads," he added.

With the fifth list, released Thursday evening, the Congress has now announced names for 225 seats in the 230-member MP Assembly.

The Congress is yet to announce its contestants from Budhni (Sehore), Manpur (Dhar), Indore-2, Indore-5 and Jatara (Tikamgarh) seats.

Congress sources said the party is looking for a strong candidate for Budhni to "confine" MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan there.

The BJP Thursday released its third list of 32 candidates, leaving only six seats, in the 230-member MP House, for which no names have been declared so far.

These are Seoni-Malwa, from which Singh was a sitting MLA, Panna, Lakhnadoun, Bhopal North, Mahidpur and Garoth.

Sitting among his supporters earlier Thursday, the Sikh leader tried to conceal his tears by covering his face for a few moments.

State BJP spokesperson Anil Soumitra, who had earlier in the day called Singh's teary reaction to his exclusion from the party's list as "unbecoming", later in the evening said the veteran MLA's exit would not harm the BJP.

"Will the Congress workers accept him? Is this trend of nursing personal political ambitions right? If he was such a big leader, why he did not run as an Independent candidate," Soumitra said.

Earlier in the day, asked for a comment, Soumitra said," The BJP has valued him immensely. The party has made him Union minister, twice MP Minister, MP and MLA. What more does he want? Instead of Vanaprashta (retirement in forest), he wants to stay put in Grihastha (household)."

Singh was earlier dropped as MP PWD minister along with state Home minister Babulal Gaur in June 2016 reportedly due to old age.

Singh is the third powerful BJP leader to join Congress after Sanjay Sharma and Padma Shukla.

Sharma was the sitting BJP MLA from Tendukhenda in Seoni district and has now been given a ticket from there by the Congress.

Shukla, who resigned as MP Social Welfare Board chief and quit the BJP, has got the Congress' nomination from Vijayraghavgarh constituency in Katni district.

Besides, the Congress has made Sanjay Singh Masani, brother-in-law of MP CM Chouhan, its nominee from Waraseoni assembly seat in Balaghat district, currently represented by BJP's Yogendra Nirmal.

A native of Maharashtra, Masani's name figured on the fourth list of 29 candidates released Wednesday by the Congress.

Meanwhile, the Congress took a dig at the BJP over Sartaj Singh and said the ruling party had a habit of treating senior leaders in such a manner.

 
MP Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta claimed that the BJP had "no respect" for elders and gave the example of party patriarch LK Advani.

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Sartaj Singh Thursday switched over to the Congress after his name did not figure in the ruling party's third list for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Sartaj Singh Thursday switched over to the Congress after his name did not figure in the ruling party's third list for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls. Singh, two-time MLA from Seoni-Malwa who wept openly after the BJP snub, was immediately named as the Congress' nominee for the Hoshangabad Assembly seat in the opposition party's fifth list comprising 16 candidates. Singh holds sway in the Hoshangabad region and had defeated late Congress stalwart Arjun Singh from there in 1998. "I am grateful to the Congress for nominating me from Hoshangabad. I had been with the saffron family for 58 long years. The BJP denied me a ticket. I want to be in the midst of the people so I am contesting elections," Singh told PTI over phone. "I don't want to sit at home and confine myself to counting prayer beads," he added. With the fifth list, released Thursday evening, the Congress has now announced names for 225 seats in the 230-member MP Assembly. The Congress is yet to announce its contestants from Budhni (Sehore), Manpur (Dhar), Indore-2, Indore-5 and Jatara (Tikamgarh) seats. Congress sources said the party is looking for a strong candidate for Budhni to "confine" MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan there. The BJP Thursday released its third list of 32 candidates, leaving only six seats, in the 230-member MP House, for which no names have been declared so far. These are Seoni-Malwa, from which Singh was a sitting MLA, Panna, Lakhnadoun, Bhopal North, Mahidpur and Garoth. Sitting among his supporters earlier Thursday, the Sikh leader tried to conceal his tears by covering his face for a few moments. State BJP spokesperson Anil Soumitra, who had earlier in the day called Singh's teary reaction to his exclusion from the party's list as "unbecoming", later in the evening said the veteran MLA's exit would not harm the BJP. "Will the Congress workers accept him? Is this trend of nursing personal political ambitions right? If he was such a big leader, why he did not run as an Independent candidate," Soumitra said. Earlier in the day, asked for a comment, Soumitra said," The BJP has valued him immensely. The party has made him Union minister, twice MP Minister, MP and MLA. What more does he want? Instead of Vanaprashta (retirement in forest), he wants to stay put in Grihastha (household)." Singh was earlier dropped as MP PWD minister along with state Home minister Babulal Gaur in June 2016 reportedly due to old age. Singh is the third powerful BJP leader to join Congress after Sanjay Sharma and Padma Shukla. Sharma was the sitting BJP MLA from Tendukhenda in Seoni district and has now been given a ticket from there by the Congress. Shukla, who resigned as MP Social Welfare Board chief and quit the BJP, has got the Congress' nomination from Vijayraghavgarh constituency in Katni district. Besides, the Congress has made Sanjay Singh Masani, brother-in-law of MP CM Chouhan, its nominee from Waraseoni assembly seat in Balaghat district, currently represented by BJP's Yogendra Nirmal. A native of Maharashtra, Masani's name figured on the fourth list of 29 candidates released Wednesday by the Congress. Meanwhile, the Congress took a dig at the BJP over Sartaj Singh and said the ruling party had a habit of treating senior leaders in such a manner. MP Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta claimed that the BJP had "no respect" for elders and gave the example of party patriarch LK Advani.

MP polls: Snubbed senior BJP leader joins Congress, gets ticket

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/14-candidates-in-congress-fifth-list-for-madhya-pradesh-polls-176271">Congress</a> on Thursday night released its sixth and final list for the November 28 Assembly polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, nominating its OBC face Arun Yadav against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh in Budhni seat in Sehore district.

The BJP also announced its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mp-assembly-polls-bjp-releases-fourth-list-of-candidates-176311">fourth and final list</a> of seven candidates for the polls.&nbsp;

The Congress left one seat, Jatara, for its ally Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD).

With an apparent objective to tie down Chouhan in his bastion Budhni, the opposition party picked up former Union Minister and former MP Congress chief Yadav as his opponent.

Yadav community accounts for a large number of votes, nearly twice that of Kirars, an OBC community to which Chouhan belongs, a source in Sehore district said.

Chouhan has been elected from Budhni thrice in a row.

Yadav will file his nomination papers on Friday, party sources said.

The Congress left a seat in Jatara, reserved for SC candidate, for LJD in the party's final list. The LJD might field Vikram Choudhary from Jatara, sources said.

"With the final list out, we have declared candidates for 229 out of 230 seats," MP Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said.

Budhni, over 60 km from here, is Chouhan's home turf from where he was first elected as MLA in 1990. This would be the fifth time he will be contesting from the seat, which is close to his ancestral village of Jait in Sehore.

In 2013, Chouhan had defeated Congress's Mahendra Singh Chauhan by 84,000 votes from Budhni.

Besides Yadav, the Congress, in the final list, announced candidates for Indore-1 (Sanjay Shukla in place of earlier announced Preeti Agnihotri), Indore-2 (Mohan Singh Sengar), Indore-5 (Satyanarayan Patel), Manpur-ST (Gyanwati Singh) and Ratlam Rural-ST (Thavar Lal Bhuria).

The BJP, in a surprise move in its final list, nominated a woman candidate, Fatima Rasul Siddaki, against Congress's sitting MLA Arif Aqueel from Bhopal North.

Other seats for which it announced candidates were: Pawai (Prahlad Lodhi), Panna (Brijendra Singh), Lakhnadoun-ST (Vijay Uike), Seoni-Malwa (Prem Shankar Verma in place of former minister Sartaj Singh, who quit BJP at the last moment to join Congress in protest), Mahidpur (Bahadur Singh Chauhan) and Garoth (Devilal Dhakar).

With this, BJP has announced its candidates for all 230 seats in the state, party spokesperson Sarvesh Tiwari said.&nbsp;

The Congress on Thursday night released its sixth and final list for the November 28 Assembly polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, nominating its OBC face Arun Yadav against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh in Budhni seat in Sehore district.

The Congress on Thursday night released its sixth and final list for the November 28 Assembly polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, nominating its OBC face Arun Yadav against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh in Budhni seat in Sehore district. The BJP also announced its fourth and final list of seven candidates for the polls. The Congress left one seat, Jatara, for its ally Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD). With an apparent objective to tie down Chouhan in his bastion Budhni, the opposition party picked up former Union Minister and former MP Congress chief Yadav as his opponent. Yadav community accounts for a large number of votes, nearly twice that of Kirars, an OBC community to which Chouhan belongs, a source in Sehore district said. Chouhan has been elected from Budhni thrice in a row. Yadav will file his nomination papers on Friday, party sources said. The Congress left a seat in Jatara, reserved for SC candidate, for LJD in the party's final list. The LJD might field Vikram Choudhary from Jatara, sources said. "With the final list out, we have declared candidates for 229 out of 230 seats," MP Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said. Budhni, over 60 km from here, is Chouhan's home turf from where he was first elected as MLA in 1990. This would be the fifth time he will be contesting from the seat, which is close to his ancestral village of Jait in Sehore. In 2013, Chouhan had defeated Congress's Mahendra Singh Chauhan by 84,000 votes from Budhni. Besides Yadav, the Congress, in the final list, announced candidates for Indore-1 (Sanjay Shukla in place of earlier announced Preeti Agnihotri), Indore-2 (Mohan Singh Sengar), Indore-5 (Satyanarayan Patel), Manpur-ST (Gyanwati Singh) and Ratlam Rural-ST (Thavar Lal Bhuria). The BJP, in a surprise move in its final list, nominated a woman candidate, Fatima Rasul Siddaki, against Congress's sitting MLA Arif Aqueel from Bhopal North. Other seats for which it announced candidates were: Pawai (Prahlad Lodhi), Panna (Brijendra Singh), Lakhnadoun-ST (Vijay Uike), Seoni-Malwa (Prem Shankar Verma in place of former minister Sartaj Singh, who quit BJP at the last moment to join Congress in protest), Mahidpur (Bahadur Singh Chauhan) and Garoth (Devilal Dhakar). With this, BJP has announced its candidates for all 230 seats in the state, party spokesperson Sarvesh Tiwari said.

Madhya Pradesh polls: Congress, BJP final lists out; Arun Yadav to take on CM

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released the fourth list of seven candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections.

The party has fielded Prahlad Lodhi for its constituency in Pawai, Prem Shankar Verma from Seoni-Malwa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan from Mahidpur and Devilal Dhakar from the Garoth constituency.

The BJP has also fielded Brijendra Singh from Panna replacing Kusum Mehdele, who represents the constituency at present.

The list also consists of one Scheduled Tribe from the Lakhnadon constituency for which it has fielded Vijay Uike and the only woman candidate in the list is Fatima Rasul Siddaki for the Bhopal Uttar constituency.

In the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mp-assembly-polls-bjp-releases-third-list-of-32-candidates-176196"> third list released</a>, the party included general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya`s son Akash Vijayvargiya from the Indore-3 constituency and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur`s daughter-in-law Krishna Gour from Govindpura constituency.

The state is slated to go to polls on November 28 for 230 constituencies. Counting of votes will take place on December 11.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released the fourth list of seven candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections. The party has fielded Prahlad Lodhi for its constituency in Pawai, Prem Shankar Verma from Seoni-Malwa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan from Mahidpur and Devilal Dhakar from the Garoth constituency.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released the fourth list of seven candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections. The party has fielded Prahlad Lodhi for its constituency in Pawai, Prem Shankar Verma from Seoni-Malwa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan from Mahidpur and Devilal Dhakar from the Garoth constituency. The BJP has also fielded Brijendra Singh from Panna replacing Kusum Mehdele, who represents the constituency at present. The list also consists of one Scheduled Tribe from the Lakhnadon constituency for which it has fielded Vijay Uike and the only woman candidate in the list is Fatima Rasul Siddaki for the Bhopal Uttar constituency. In the third list released, the party included general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya`s son Akash Vijayvargiya from the Indore-3 constituency and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur`s daughter-in-law Krishna Gour from Govindpura constituency. The state is slated to go to polls on November 28 for 230 constituencies. Counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Madhya Pradesh assembly polls: BJP releases fourth list of candidates

The Congress Party on Thursday released the fifth list of 14 candidates for the ensuing Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. The party has fielded former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Sartaj Singh from Hoshangabad constituency.

Apart from Singh, Satyanarayan Patidar will be contesting from Neemuch, Vinay Kumar Saxena from Jabalpur North and Babu Jandel from Sheopur.

The Congress had released the fourth list on Wednesday naming 29 candidates including the brother-in-law of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sanjay Singh Masani.

The first list was released on November 3, which contained the name of 155 candidates, including 21 women, 21 Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates and 34 Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.

The Congress Party on Thursday released the fifth list of 14 candidates for the ensuing Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. The party has fielded former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Sartaj Singh from Hoshangabad constituency.

The Congress Party on Thursday released the fifth list of 14 candidates for the ensuing Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. The party has fielded former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Sartaj Singh from Hoshangabad constituency. Apart from Singh, Satyanarayan Patidar will be contesting from Neemuch, Vinay Kumar Saxena from Jabalpur North and Babu Jandel from Sheopur. The Congress had released the fourth list on Wednesday naming 29 candidates including the brother-in-law of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sanjay Singh Masani. The first list was released on November 3, which contained the name of 155 candidates, including 21 women, 21 Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates and 34 Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates.

14 candidates in Congress' fifth list for Madhya Pradesh polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released the third list of 32 candidates for the ensuing Madhya Pradesh assembly elections.

The party has fielded national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya's son Akash Vijayvargiya from the Indore-3 constituency and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur's daughter-in-law Krishna Gour from Govindpura constituency.

The list includes six Scheduled Castes, two Scheduled Tribes and five women. Among others are Shivmangal Singh Tomar, Rakesh Choudhary, Rajni Prajapati, Anil Jain, Lakhan Patel, Shiv Bahadur Chandel, Moti Kashyap, Babulal Verma, and Malini Gour.

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Earlier, the party released the first list of 177 candidates on November 2.

Current Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is contesting from his home constituency, Budhni. The BJP later released the second list of 17 candidates on November 5.

Madhya Pradesh is slated to go to polls on November 28 for 230 constituencies.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released the third list of 32 candidates for the ensuing Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. The party has fielded national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya's son Akash Vijayvargiya from the Indore-3 constituency and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur's daughter-in-law Krishna Gour from Govindpura constituency.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released the third list of 32 candidates for the ensuing Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. The party has fielded national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya's son Akash Vijayvargiya from the Indore-3 constituency and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Babulal Gaur's daughter-in-law Krishna Gour from Govindpura constituency. The list includes six Scheduled Castes, two Scheduled Tribes and five women. Among others are Shivmangal Singh Tomar, Rakesh Choudhary, Rajni Prajapati, Anil Jain, Lakhan Patel, Shiv Bahadur Chandel, Moti Kashyap, Babulal Verma, and Malini Gour. BJP releases the third list of candidates for #MadhyaPradeshElections2018 pic.twitter.com/ZLN6IayfUz — ANI (@ANI) November 8, 2018 × Earlier, the party released the first list of 177 candidates on November 2. Current Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is contesting from his home constituency, Budhni. The BJP later released the second list of 17 candidates on November 5. Madhya Pradesh is slated to go to polls on November 28 for 230 constituencies.

MP assembly polls: BJP releases third list of 32 candidates

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani who deserted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and joined the Congress the other day was declared the party candidate for the Waraseoni constituency on Wednesday.

During his maiden visit to the state Congress headquarters in his new avatar on Sunday, Masani had heaped praises on Madhya Pradesh Congress unit President Kamal Nath and said that Chouhan's 13-year rule is coming to an end.&nbsp;

With barely two days left for the filing of nominations, BJP was struggling with the ticket distribution exercise. Till Thursday morning, the ruling party was still to announce it's nominees for 38 of the total 230 constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

The state BJP unit has been rocked by a fierce battle for tickets. The prestigious Govindpura constituency in the state capital, which has been represented by former chief minister Babulal Gaur for a record ten terms, is under sharp focus this time. Initially, Gaur was not ready to digest the party's idea of dropping him but with some advice from the 'right quarters', he has agreed to settle for the status of a star campaigner in this election. Gaur's daughter-in-law and former Bhopal Mayor Krishna Gaur also has been pitching for this seat but she has encountered roadblocks as the grassroot party workers began demanding their piece of the cake.&nbsp;

Even the main opposition Congress party has been coping with endless pulls and pressures on the ticket distribution front. The rivalry among the top state Congress leaders had spilled into the open the other day when party seniors Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia were engaged in a heated argument over the choice of candidates.

Till now the Congress has declared 212 of the 230 candidates in Madhya Pradesh. On Thursday, the penultimate day for filing nomination papers, the Congress party is expected to clear the names for the remaining constituencies.&nbsp;

In the final run-up for elections, what came as a shot in the arm for the newly floated Sapaks Party, was the letter from the Election Commission announcing it's registration on 6 November. Only two days before this, without registration and election symbol, this party had entered into an alliance with another lesser known outfit - Sampurn Samaj Party. This alliance lasted only for a day and even before the EC issued its order, Sapaks Party released its first list of candidates and declared that they would be contesting on a common symbol. Eyebrows are being raised in knowledgeable circles and it is being asked whether or not Sapaks Party had been tipped by some EC insider to walk out of the alliance as its registration had been okayed.&nbsp;

Sapaks Party has been formed by a group of retired officers, mainly led by promotee IAS officers. This party is entering the election on the anti-reservation and the Atrocities Act issue with the tacit support of state government employees, who are also working under the banner of SAPAK to oppose the government provision for reservation in promotion for SCs and STs.&nbsp;

Sapaks Party is projecting itself as a third force in MP's electoral politics. Its claim notwithstanding, the Samajwadi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party are also in the fray. 
 
Then there are many other untested parties - all shouting from rooftops against reservation and the Atrocities Act. The Sarv Samaj Kalyan Party that has the blessings of renowned kathavachak Devkinandan Thakur completes the full circle. These parties will make the elections in the state rather interesting. 
 
The million dollar question is: Will this election go on caste lines and once more underscore the primacy of vote bank politics or whether the anti-reservation plank would be driving the voters in hordes.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
 
&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani who deserted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and joined the Congress the other day was declared the party candidate for the Waraseoni constituency on Wednesday.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani who deserted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and joined the Congress the other day was declared the party candidate for the Waraseoni constituency on Wednesday. During his maiden visit to the state Congress headquarters in his new avatar on Sunday, Masani had heaped praises on Madhya Pradesh Congress unit President Kamal Nath and said that Chouhan's 13-year rule is coming to an end. With barely two days left for the filing of nominations, BJP was struggling with the ticket distribution exercise. Till Thursday morning, the ruling party was still to announce it's nominees for 38 of the total 230 constituencies in Madhya Pradesh. The state BJP unit has been rocked by a fierce battle for tickets. The prestigious Govindpura constituency in the state capital, which has been represented by former chief minister Babulal Gaur for a record ten terms, is under sharp focus this time. Initially, Gaur was not ready to digest the party's idea of dropping him but with some advice from the 'right quarters', he has agreed to settle for the status of a star campaigner in this election. Gaur's daughter-in-law and former Bhopal Mayor Krishna Gaur also has been pitching for this seat but she has encountered roadblocks as the grassroot party workers began demanding their piece of the cake. Even the main opposition Congress party has been coping with endless pulls and pressures on the ticket distribution front. The rivalry among the top state Congress leaders had spilled into the open the other day when party seniors Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia were engaged in a heated argument over the choice of candidates. Till now the Congress has declared 212 of the 230 candidates in Madhya Pradesh. On Thursday, the penultimate day for filing nomination papers, the Congress party is expected to clear the names for the remaining constituencies. In the final run-up for elections, what came as a shot in the arm for the newly floated Sapaks Party, was the letter from the Election Commission announcing it's registration on 6 November. Only two days before this, without registration and election symbol, this party had entered into an alliance with another lesser known outfit - Sampurn Samaj Party. This alliance lasted only for a day and even before the EC issued its order, Sapaks Party released its first list of candidates and declared that they would be contesting on a common symbol. Eyebrows are being raised in knowledgeable circles and it is being asked whether or not Sapaks Party had been tipped by some EC insider to walk out of the alliance as its registration had been okayed. Sapaks Party has been formed by a group of retired officers, mainly led by promotee IAS officers. This party is entering the election on the anti-reservation and the Atrocities Act issue with the tacit support of state government employees, who are also working under the banner of SAPAK to oppose the government provision for reservation in promotion for SCs and STs. Sapaks Party is projecting itself as a third force in MP's electoral politics. Its claim notwithstanding, the Samajwadi Party, and Bahujan Samaj Party are also in the fray. Then there are many other untested parties - all shouting from rooftops against reservation and the Atrocities Act. The Sarv Samaj Kalyan Party that has the blessings of renowned kathavachak Devkinandan Thakur completes the full circle. These parties will make the elections in the state rather interesting. The million dollar question is: Will this election go on caste lines and once more underscore the primacy of vote bank politics or whether the anti-reservation plank would be driving the voters in hordes. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Assembly elections 2018: Ticket tangle and third force in Madhya Pradesh

A case has been registered against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate Narayan Tripathi on Tuesday for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct in the poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh.

Tripathi had gone to file his nomination carrying a fee of Rs 10,000 in the form of Re 1 coins in a metal pot covered with a piece of red cloth, which, he claimed ,to have collected from the public as their blessings.

The metal pot in which Tripathi was carrying the coins looked similar to an urn used to carry the funeral ash, which allegedly has a religious implication.

Satna Returning Officer and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Maihar HK Dhurve considered the gesture as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and registered a case against Tripathi under Section 125 A of the Representation of the People Act.

However, Tripathi said that an issue is being unnecessarily blown out of proportion by the Congress. "Congress is creating an issue out of this. I have not flouted any code of conduct," he claimed.

Tripathi carried his nomination fee in a total of 12 metal pots.

A case has been registered against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate Narayan Tripathi on Tuesday for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct in the poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh.

A case has been registered against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate Narayan Tripathi on Tuesday for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct in the poll-bound state of Madhya Pradesh. Tripathi had gone to file his nomination carrying a fee of Rs 10,000 in the form of Re 1 coins in a metal pot covered with a piece of red cloth, which, he claimed ,to have collected from the public as their blessings. The metal pot in which Tripathi was carrying the coins looked similar to an urn used to carry the funeral ash, which allegedly has a religious implication. Satna Returning Officer and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Maihar HK Dhurve considered the gesture as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and registered a case against Tripathi under Section 125 A of the Representation of the People Act. However, Tripathi said that an issue is being unnecessarily blown out of proportion by the Congress. "Congress is creating an issue out of this. I have not flouted any code of conduct," he claimed. Tripathi carried his nomination fee in a total of 12 metal pots.

MP Polls: BJP candidate carries coins in metal pot, case registered

The Congress has issued its third list of 13 candidates for the November 28 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, which mainly comprises new faces.

The party has dropped Pandhurna Member of Legislative Assembly or MLA Jatan Uikey and replaced him with Neelesh Uikey.

Loyalists of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and Guna Member of Parliament or MP Jyotiraditya Scindia also found place on the list.

Both Scindia and Nath, the sitting lawmaker from Chhindwara seat, are believed to be the top contenders for the chief minister's post from the Congress.

With the latest list issued Monday night, the Congress has so far announced 184 nominees for the total 230 assembly constituencies.

The announcement for the remaining 46 candidates is awaited as only three days are left for filing nominations.

The Congress has been out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003. The incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government is seeking a fourth straight term.

Among the 13 candidates, the Congress has fielded former state minister Deepak Saxena, a close confidante of Kamal Nath, from Chhindwara seat.

Another prominent nominee is Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, a loyalist of state Congress campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has been re-nominated from Bamori in Guna district.

The Congress seems to have reposed faith in the first-timers in its latest list.

Among the new nominees are Sunil Uikey from Junnardeo and Sujit Choudhary from Chourai assembly seat in Chhindwara district.

The Congress has also fielded Manoj Choudhary, a first-timer, from Hatpipalya in Dewas district.

Other candidates who would be contesting the polls as first-time Congress nominees are Shrikant Chaturvedi (Maihar) and Ramshankar Payasi (Rampur Baghelan) in Satna district.

Babita Saket who switched over to the Congress from BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) was allotted ticket from Mangavan seat in Rewa district.

The Congress has fielded Tilak Raj Singh and Sammati Prakash Saini from Manpur in Umaria district and Panagar in Jabalpur district respectively.

Jaipal Singh Jajji, who had lost the 2013 polls from Ashok Nagar seat, has been nominated from the same seat.

Arif Masood, who had lost from Bhopal Central constituency last time, has also been given a ticket.

The Congress announced its first list of 155 candidates on November 3 in which it re-nominated 46 lawmakers. A day after, it announced the second list of 16 candidates.

In the 230-member house, the Congress has 57 Members of Legislative Assembly.

The Congress has issued its third list of 13 candidates for the November 28 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, which mainly comprises new faces. The party has dropped Pandhurna Member of Legislative Assembly or MLA Jatan Uikey and replaced him with Neelesh Uikey.

The Congress has issued its third list of 13 candidates for the November 28 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, which mainly comprises new faces. The party has dropped Pandhurna Member of Legislative Assembly or MLA Jatan Uikey and replaced him with Neelesh Uikey. Loyalists of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and Guna Member of Parliament or MP Jyotiraditya Scindia also found place on the list. Both Scindia and Nath, the sitting lawmaker from Chhindwara seat, are believed to be the top contenders for the chief minister's post from the Congress. With the latest list issued Monday night, the Congress has so far announced 184 nominees for the total 230 assembly constituencies. The announcement for the remaining 46 candidates is awaited as only three days are left for filing nominations. The Congress has been out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003. The incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government is seeking a fourth straight term. Among the 13 candidates, the Congress has fielded former state minister Deepak Saxena, a close confidante of Kamal Nath, from Chhindwara seat. Another prominent nominee is Mahendra Singh Sisodiya, a loyalist of state Congress campaign committee chief Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has been re-nominated from Bamori in Guna district. The Congress seems to have reposed faith in the first-timers in its latest list. Among the new nominees are Sunil Uikey from Junnardeo and Sujit Choudhary from Chourai assembly seat in Chhindwara district. The Congress has also fielded Manoj Choudhary, a first-timer, from Hatpipalya in Dewas district. Other candidates who would be contesting the polls as first-time Congress nominees are Shrikant Chaturvedi (Maihar) and Ramshankar Payasi (Rampur Baghelan) in Satna district. Babita Saket who switched over to the Congress from BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) was allotted ticket from Mangavan seat in Rewa district. The Congress has fielded Tilak Raj Singh and Sammati Prakash Saini from Manpur in Umaria district and Panagar in Jabalpur district respectively. Jaipal Singh Jajji, who had lost the 2013 polls from Ashok Nagar seat, has been nominated from the same seat. Arif Masood, who had lost from Bhopal Central constituency last time, has also been given a ticket. The Congress announced its first list of 155 candidates on November 3 in which it re-nominated 46 lawmakers. A day after, it announced the second list of 16 candidates. In the 230-member house, the Congress has 57 Members of Legislative Assembly.

New faces dominate Congress' third list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh

Congress on Wednesday released its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh, who recently joined hands with the Rahul Gandhi-led party, has been given a ticket from Waraseoni, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

Congress, earlier in the day, released its third of candidates for poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. The list included a flurry of new faces and included 13 candidates.&nbsp;

The party has dropped Pandhurna Member of Legislative Assembly or MLA Jatan Uikey and replaced him with Neelesh Uikey, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

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Loyalists of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and Guna Member of Parliament or MP Jyotiraditya Scindia also found place on the list.

Both Scindia and Nath, the sitting lawmaker from Chhindwara seat, are believed to be the top contenders for the chief minister's post from the Congress.

With the latest list issued Monday night, the Congress has so far announced 184 nominees for the total 230 assembly constituencies.

The announcement for the remaining 46 candidates is awaited, only three days are left for filing nominations.

The BJP-ruled state has a total of 230 assembly seats, the Congress has 57 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Congress on Wednesday released its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh, who recently joined hands with the Rahul Gandhi-led party, has been given a ticket from Waraseoni, news agency ANI reported.

Congress on Wednesday released its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh, who recently joined hands with the Rahul Gandhi-led party, has been given a ticket from Waraseoni, news agency ANI reported. Congress, earlier in the day, released its third of candidates for poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. The list included a flurry of new faces and included 13 candidates. The party has dropped Pandhurna Member of Legislative Assembly or MLA Jatan Uikey and replaced him with Neelesh Uikey, news agency PTI reported. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan's brother in law Sanjay Singh to contest from Waraseoni on a Congress ticket #assemblyelections2018 https://t.co/Z5ZgKLelHx — ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2018 × Loyalists of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and Guna Member of Parliament or MP Jyotiraditya Scindia also found place on the list. Both Scindia and Nath, the sitting lawmaker from Chhindwara seat, are believed to be the top contenders for the chief minister's post from the Congress. With the latest list issued Monday night, the Congress has so far announced 184 nominees for the total 230 assembly constituencies. The announcement for the remaining 46 candidates is awaited, only three days are left for filing nominations. The BJP-ruled state has a total of 230 assembly seats, the Congress has 57 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh. (With inputs from agencies)

Madhya Pradesh polls: Congress releases fourth list, CM Chouhan's brother-in-law to contest from Waraseoni

BJP MP Anurag Thakur Saturday alleged Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was "pretending to be a religious person to deceive voters", adding that the Congress' "pretence" for "Hindu interests" made it clear that only those who talked of Hindus would rule the country.&nbsp;

The ongoing campaign for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, slated for November 28, has seen the Congress projecting Gandhi as a 'Shiv bhakt' with the party chief offering prayers at several temples, including the revered Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.

"Rahul is pretending to be a religious person. The Congress did not remember 'janeu' (sacred thread worn by Hindus) in the last 70 years. But the Congress chief is now showing his thread to deceive voters," the Himachal MP, also the BJP's chief whip in Lok Sabha, said.

"Congress used to talk about Hindu terrorism and saffron terrorism earlier. But Rahul is repeatedly visiting temples now. This has made one thing clear that those who talk about interests of Hindus would rule the country. But the Congress is only pretending to be bothered about Hindu interests," Thakur said.&nbsp;

In reply to a question, the BJP MP from Hamirpur said, "Rahul alleges (liquor baron) Vijay Mallya, (diamantaires) Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi fled the country after taking loans worth thousands of crore rupees from Indian banks. But these businessmen were close to the Congress during the UPA regime".&nbsp;

Speaking about alleged differences between senior Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia on ticket distribution, Thakur said the "battle" within the opposition party had led to its failure in projecting a CM face for the state.&nbsp;

"The state Congress has been engaged in the battle of raja (Digvijaya) and maharaja (Scindia). It has even failed to decide about a chief ministerial face," the BJP leader said.

The counting of votes for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls will be held on December 11.&nbsp;

BJP MP Anurag Thakur Saturday alleged Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was "pretending to be a religious person to deceive voters", adding that the Congress' "pretence" for "Hindu interests" made it clear that only those who talked of Hindus would rule the country.

BJP MP Anurag Thakur Saturday alleged Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was "pretending to be a religious person to deceive voters", adding that the Congress' "pretence" for "Hindu interests" made it clear that only those who talked of Hindus would rule the country. The ongoing campaign for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, slated for November 28, has seen the Congress projecting Gandhi as a 'Shiv bhakt' with the party chief offering prayers at several temples, including the revered Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. "Rahul is pretending to be a religious person. The Congress did not remember 'janeu' (sacred thread worn by Hindus) in the last 70 years. But the Congress chief is now showing his thread to deceive voters," the Himachal MP, also the BJP's chief whip in Lok Sabha, said. "Congress used to talk about Hindu terrorism and saffron terrorism earlier. But Rahul is repeatedly visiting temples now. This has made one thing clear that those who talk about interests of Hindus would rule the country. But the Congress is only pretending to be bothered about Hindu interests," Thakur said. In reply to a question, the BJP MP from Hamirpur said, "Rahul alleges (liquor baron) Vijay Mallya, (diamantaires) Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi fled the country after taking loans worth thousands of crore rupees from Indian banks. But these businessmen were close to the Congress during the UPA regime". Speaking about alleged differences between senior Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia on ticket distribution, Thakur said the "battle" within the opposition party had led to its failure in projecting a CM face for the state. "The state Congress has been engaged in the battle of raja (Digvijaya) and maharaja (Scindia). It has even failed to decide about a chief ministerial face," the BJP leader said. The counting of votes for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls will be held on December 11.

Rahul 'pretending' to be religious to 'deceive' voters: BJP MP

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani joined the Congress Saturday, saying the state needs the party chief Kamal Nath not Chouhan as the CM.

Masani is the brother of Chouhan's wife Sadhna Singh.

He joined the Congress in the presence of its Madhya Pradesh unit president Kamal Nath and another senior state leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and said the state needs a leader like Nath not Chouhan.

"Madhya Pradesh does not need Shivraj but Nath. We all know how Chhindwara has been developed and is identified with Kamal Nath. The state also needs to be identified with him," Masani said. Kamal Nath represents Chhindwara in the Lok Sabha.

While he lashed out at the BJP for ignoring "kaamdars" (those who toil) at the cost of "naamdars" (big names), he said he should not be projected as a family member of Chouhan but only as his relative.

"My name is Sanjay Singh Masani. My family lineage and 'gotra' are different," he said.

Kamal Nath told reporters that all sections of society are affected by Chouhan's misrule, and the decision of Masani to join the Congress is a reflection of people's wish to chart a new course of development in the state, he said.

The BJP has been in power in the state since 2003.&nbsp;

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani joined the Congress Saturday, saying the state needs the party chief Kamal Nath not Chouhan as the CM.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani joined the Congress Saturday, saying the state needs the party chief Kamal Nath not Chouhan as the CM. Masani is the brother of Chouhan's wife Sadhna Singh. He joined the Congress in the presence of its Madhya Pradesh unit president Kamal Nath and another senior state leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and said the state needs a leader like Nath not Chouhan. "Madhya Pradesh does not need Shivraj but Nath. We all know how Chhindwara has been developed and is identified with Kamal Nath. The state also needs to be identified with him," Masani said. Kamal Nath represents Chhindwara in the Lok Sabha. While he lashed out at the BJP for ignoring "kaamdars" (those who toil) at the cost of "naamdars" (big names), he said he should not be projected as a family member of Chouhan but only as his relative. "My name is Sanjay Singh Masani. My family lineage and 'gotra' are different," he said. Kamal Nath told reporters that all sections of society are affected by Chouhan's misrule, and the decision of Masani to join the Congress is a reflection of people's wish to chart a new course of development in the state, he said. The BJP has been in power in the state since 2003.

Madhya Pradesh: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's brother-in-law joins Congress

In crucial battleground of Madhya Pradesh, groups based on caste and tribe are joining the electoral fray even as the Congress tries to find its real voice and plank amidst its attempts to recast its image in ‘soft Hindutva’. &nbsp;

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, meanwhile, is on a spree of announcing one sop after another, desperate to ensure that he can return to power a record fourth time.

Madhya Pradesh has a total of 230 seats, and presently BJP holds a lion’s share of them (165).&nbsp;

Samanya Pichhra Alpsankhyak Kalyan Samaj (Sapaks) claims to speak for all castes but is, in essence, an upper-caste dominated group that opposes reservation on caste-lines. It has said that the group will support candidates in as many seats as possible. Similarly, Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), a tribal outfit, has been campaigning for months across tribal-dominated areas in the state and is going to contest at least 80 seats. It has also roped in Bollywood actor Govinda to campaign during elections. &nbsp;

Besides these two groups, AAP is also in the electoral fray and is likely to get some traction in urban areas. Another player will be Swaraj Abhiyan which has been active in Madhya Pradesh for the last couple of years and will support candidates who wish to contest on its farmer-driven agenda.&nbsp;

Traditionally, Madhya Pradesh has been a bi-polar state with power changing hands between the BJP and the Congress. However, the Congress has been out of power in the state since 2003 and post-2014 the Modi phenomenon has worsened its condition at the ground with the party struggling to find booth-level workers.&nbsp;

The Congress was planning an alliance with the BSP. However, BSP has already announced its first list of 22 candidates and is maintaining that it will fight 230 Assembly seats on its own. It’s a failure of the Congres&nbsp;because interestingly the combined vote share of Congress-BSP almost matches that of the BJP, and therefore if the two parties were able to work out an alliance, the BJP might have found it difficult to counter it. &nbsp;

Over the last 15 years, the BJP has grown from strength to strength. RSS, its ideological mentor, too has come to dominate the party and government policy of the state.

While this has created a very stable supporter base for the party, it has also generated resentment among cadres who have come to harbour a feeling of being ignored and sidelined. The most recent example of this was the resignation of BJP Minister Padma Shukla from the state cabinet a day before Prime Minister Modi’s rally in Bhopal.&nbsp;

While it is impossible to estimate the size of the disgruntled section within BJP, it can be safely said that it is big enough to give the party sleepless nights. To address some of this resentment it has appointed Lok Sabha MP from Jabalpur, Rakesh Singh as its state president.&nbsp;

The party has also reached out directly to the electorate with schemes and sops that it should have ideally implemented years ago. The MP government has recently announced a pay hike for ‘guest teachers’, loan waivers for farmers, increase in stipends for MDM cooks, and government doctors as well the creation of 38 new administrative blocks in 29 districts.&nbsp;

However, the general perception is that the Congress is not strong enough to take on the BJP and this perhaps explains the rise of smaller outfits seeking to make the most of BJP’s 15 year-long anti-incumbency.&nbsp;

 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

In crucial battleground of Madhya Pradesh, groups based on caste and tribe are joining the electoral fray even as the Congress tries to find its real voice and plank amidst its attempts to recast its image in ‘soft Hindutva’.

In crucial battleground of Madhya Pradesh, groups based on caste and tribe are joining the electoral fray even as the Congress tries to find its real voice and plank amidst its attempts to recast its image in ‘soft Hindutva’. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, meanwhile, is on a spree of announcing one sop after another, desperate to ensure that he can return to power a record fourth time. Madhya Pradesh has a total of 230 seats, and presently BJP holds a lion’s share of them (165). Samanya Pichhra Alpsankhyak Kalyan Samaj (Sapaks) claims to speak for all castes but is, in essence, an upper-caste dominated group that opposes reservation on caste-lines. It has said that the group will support candidates in as many seats as possible. Similarly, Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), a tribal outfit, has been campaigning for months across tribal-dominated areas in the state and is going to contest at least 80 seats. It has also roped in Bollywood actor Govinda to campaign during elections. Besides these two groups, AAP is also in the electoral fray and is likely to get some traction in urban areas. Another player will be Swaraj Abhiyan which has been active in Madhya Pradesh for the last couple of years and will support candidates who wish to contest on its farmer-driven agenda. Traditionally, Madhya Pradesh has been a bi-polar state with power changing hands between the BJP and the Congress. However, the Congress has been out of power in the state since 2003 and post-2014 the Modi phenomenon has worsened its condition at the ground with the party struggling to find booth-level workers. The Congress was planning an alliance with the BSP. However, BSP has already announced its first list of 22 candidates and is maintaining that it will fight 230 Assembly seats on its own. It’s a failure of the Congres because interestingly the combined vote share of Congress-BSP almost matches that of the BJP, and therefore if the two parties were able to work out an alliance, the BJP might have found it difficult to counter it. Over the last 15 years, the BJP has grown from strength to strength. RSS, its ideological mentor, too has come to dominate the party and government policy of the state. While this has created a very stable supporter base for the party, it has also generated resentment among cadres who have come to harbour a feeling of being ignored and sidelined. The most recent example of this was the resignation of BJP Minister Padma Shukla from the state cabinet a day before Prime Minister Modi’s rally in Bhopal. While it is impossible to estimate the size of the disgruntled section within BJP, it can be safely said that it is big enough to give the party sleepless nights. To address some of this resentment it has appointed Lok Sabha MP from Jabalpur, Rakesh Singh as its state president. The party has also reached out directly to the electorate with schemes and sops that it should have ideally implemented years ago. The MP government has recently announced a pay hike for ‘guest teachers’, loan waivers for farmers, increase in stipends for MDM cooks, and government doctors as well the creation of 38 new administrative blocks in 29 districts. However, the general perception is that the Congress is not strong enough to take on the BJP and this perhaps explains the rise of smaller outfits seeking to make the most of BJP’s 15 year-long anti-incumbency. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Madhya Pradesh turns into a political battleground

While Congress has almost finalised its list of candidates for 115 seats out of a total of 230, insiders in the state unit say that the party is likely to alienate many district units and booth level workers because of the way candidates were selected. &nbsp;The Congress’s first list is expected to be out next week. For half of these 115 seats, most of the 58 sitting MLAs have been given the ticket again.

Many of the remaining 57 seats have been distributed using PCC President Kamalnath’s criterion of ‘winnability’. This has meant that many Congress loyalists have been ignored and are now sulking. The difference between victory and defeat in most of the seats in the 2013 elections was only a 2,000-3,000 votes and these disgruntled Congressmen are likely to hurt the party’s chances at the booth level.&nbsp;

But Congress’s problems are not limited to resentment caused by ‘outsiders’ alone. Even though Congress president Rahul Gandhi had categorically stated that ‘outsiders’ will not be given tickets, his state president seems to have quickly realised that given the rampant factionalism in Congress at every level, bringing in ‘outsider’ candidates would perhaps be least damaging to the party’s chances. &nbsp;

In many assembly seats, Congress is also facing what can be called the mini-dynasty syndrome. In such places, one family has been fighting elections on the party’s tickets for decades. Naturally, the party’s prospects have suffered because of that. But it seems even in this crucial election, Congress is unable to recognise this dynastic-politics as a problem.&nbsp;

Take the example of Raisen district bordering Bhopal where for at least the last two decades a particular candidate, Prabhuram Chaudhary, has been getting the Congress ticket. While he has lost the last two elections to BJP minister Gauri Shankar Shejwar, &nbsp;sources in the Congress say Chaudhary is tipped to be given the ticket this time as well. &nbsp;

This has led to a disillusionment with the party, and as a result, many local Congress leaders are likely to stay on the sidelines instead of working for the same old candidate. In such seats, &nbsp;Kamalnath’s ‘winnability factor’ is trumped by cynical factionalism that has been the bane of Congress in Madhya Pradesh and other states.&nbsp;

Chaudhary is said to be backed by chief ministerial aspirant and Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, and therefore despite his clear ‘unwinnability’ he is most likely to get the ticket. &nbsp;Another seat being closely watched is Budhni, from where chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan is an MLA. &nbsp;It is being speculated that a total outsider, Arjun Arya, is likely to get the Congress nomination from this seat. &nbsp;Congress still has significant support in Budhni and garnered more than 36, 000 votes in the 2013 election despite infighting. If Congress’s state leadership can send a message of unity from this seat it will certainly boost its cadres' morale in the rest of the state. &nbsp;

But Scindia is just one of the factional leaders in the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, and has influence over 15-17 seats in the state. Besides him, there are other big and small factions like Digvijaya Singh (who controls more than half of the present Congress MLAs), Kamalnath himself and Arun Yadav, the former state president with influence in a few seats. &nbsp;

Almost every seat in the state has different factions with allegiance to one of the aforementioned leaders and to get them all united towards the common aim of defeating the BJP is proving to be a Herculean task for the grand old party. &nbsp;

It is this factionalism that was at blatant display at the Bhopal rally of Rahul Gandhi. When state media in charge Shobha Ozha tried to get Scindia and Kamalnath to join hands in a show of support, Scindia was seen pulling away from it. This move was just one visible sign of the disunity in the party.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2013 elections as well Congress’s crab mentality had led to its poor performance, winning just 58 seats as opposed to the incumbent BJP which had won 166 seats.&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the moment Congress leaders, aware as they are of the serious infighting, are only hoping that they will be able to come closer to the halfway mark of 116 seats. This speaks volumes about the party’s organisational unity and strength as it goes into polls against a three-term BJP government beset with anti-incumbency.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

While Congress has almost finalised its list of candidates for 115 seats out of a total of 230, insiders in the state unit say that the party is likely to alienate many district units and booth level workers because of the way candidates were selected.

While Congress has almost finalised its list of candidates for 115 seats out of a total of 230, insiders in the state unit say that the party is likely to alienate many district units and booth level workers because of the way candidates were selected. The Congress’s first list is expected to be out next week. For half of these 115 seats, most of the 58 sitting MLAs have been given the ticket again. Many of the remaining 57 seats have been distributed using PCC President Kamalnath’s criterion of ‘winnability’. This has meant that many Congress loyalists have been ignored and are now sulking. The difference between victory and defeat in most of the seats in the 2013 elections was only a 2,000-3,000 votes and these disgruntled Congressmen are likely to hurt the party’s chances at the booth level. But Congress’s problems are not limited to resentment caused by ‘outsiders’ alone. Even though Congress president Rahul Gandhi had categorically stated that ‘outsiders’ will not be given tickets, his state president seems to have quickly realised that given the rampant factionalism in Congress at every level, bringing in ‘outsider’ candidates would perhaps be least damaging to the party’s chances. In many assembly seats, Congress is also facing what can be called the mini-dynasty syndrome. In such places, one family has been fighting elections on the party’s tickets for decades. Naturally, the party’s prospects have suffered because of that. But it seems even in this crucial election, Congress is unable to recognise this dynastic-politics as a problem. Take the example of Raisen district bordering Bhopal where for at least the last two decades a particular candidate, Prabhuram Chaudhary, has been getting the Congress ticket. While he has lost the last two elections to BJP minister Gauri Shankar Shejwar, sources in the Congress say Chaudhary is tipped to be given the ticket this time as well. This has led to a disillusionment with the party, and as a result, many local Congress leaders are likely to stay on the sidelines instead of working for the same old candidate. In such seats, Kamalnath’s ‘winnability factor’ is trumped by cynical factionalism that has been the bane of Congress in Madhya Pradesh and other states. Chaudhary is said to be backed by chief ministerial aspirant and Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, and therefore despite his clear ‘unwinnability’ he is most likely to get the ticket. Another seat being closely watched is Budhni, from where chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan is an MLA. It is being speculated that a total outsider, Arjun Arya, is likely to get the Congress nomination from this seat. Congress still has significant support in Budhni and garnered more than 36, 000 votes in the 2013 election despite infighting. If Congress’s state leadership can send a message of unity from this seat it will certainly boost its cadres' morale in the rest of the state. But Scindia is just one of the factional leaders in the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, and has influence over 15-17 seats in the state. Besides him, there are other big and small factions like Digvijaya Singh (who controls more than half of the present Congress MLAs), Kamalnath himself and Arun Yadav, the former state president with influence in a few seats. Almost every seat in the state has different factions with allegiance to one of the aforementioned leaders and to get them all united towards the common aim of defeating the BJP is proving to be a Herculean task for the grand old party. It is this factionalism that was at blatant display at the Bhopal rally of Rahul Gandhi. When state media in charge Shobha Ozha tried to get Scindia and Kamalnath to join hands in a show of support, Scindia was seen pulling away from it. This move was just one visible sign of the disunity in the party. In 2013 elections as well Congress’s crab mentality had led to its poor performance, winning just 58 seats as opposed to the incumbent BJP which had won 166 seats. At the moment Congress leaders, aware as they are of the serious infighting, are only hoping that they will be able to come closer to the halfway mark of 116 seats. This speaks volumes about the party’s organisational unity and strength as it goes into polls against a three-term BJP government beset with anti-incumbency. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Congress is on shaky ground in Madhya Pradesh

After remaining in power for 15-years, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is confronted with double anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, whereas the major opposition Congress, which was ready to forge an alliance with both the BSP and Samajwadi Party in the midst of the hype generated recently over the prospects of a grand alliance to take on the BJP in the 2019 parliamentary election, has been left alone in the two central Indian states now in the grip of poll fever.

The Congress received the first blow when shortly after announcing an alliance with Janata Congress of Ajit Jogi in Chhattisgarh in the second fortnight of September, BSP Supremo Mayawati went ahead and ruled out any kind of alliance with the Congress party in MP.&nbsp;

The Samajwadi Party also has chosen to maintain distance from the Congress party in MP.

Recently the caste factor has got precipitated due to the amendment in the SC/ST Atrocities Act at the initiative of the Modi government at the Centre and with the full support of all the political parties. This amendment was brought to undo the Supreme Court of India order directing that no one booked under the Atrocities Act should be arrested without a preliminary enquiry.&nbsp;

The violent protests by Dalits after the apex court order and the massive Bharat Band (strike) against the amendment in the Atrocities Act indicate the magnitude of the caste divide. Obviously, therefore, driven by the motive of retaining their respective vote banks among the Dalits and the backward communities, the BSP and Samajwadi Party have chosen to go alone in MP.

For the last many years, the ruling BJP has been working concertedly to expand its base in the tribal areas of MP and Chhattisgarh by building a network of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram schools and colleges. The Vivekananda Kendra functionaries have also been in the overdrive mode in the tribal areas in recent years. This has brought dividends and in successive elections, there’s been a remarkable upward swing in BJP’s electoral fortunes in the tribal belt.

In the 2018 MP Assembly election, there are multiple dimensions when it comes to the battle for the Assembly seats reserved for the STs. Besides the BJP and Congress, now there is also a tribal group attracting huge crowds under the banner of Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) in western MP.&nbsp;

After talks for seat sharing between the Congress and JAYS have failed, the Gondwana Gantantra Party, having strong roots in the tribal areas, and Samajwadi Party have decided to go together in MP and Chhattisgarh. &nbsp;

In MP, both the ruling BJP and Congress should be ready for a backlash due to seething anger against the quota system and the Atrocities Act.&nbsp;

The State is witnessing a crusade against the government provision for reservation in promotion for SCs and STs by an organisation called SAPAKS formed by State government officers and employees belonging to the general, backward and minority communities.

SAPAKS Samaj, another body formed by citizens to extend support to the aggrieved government employees, is also spearheading a State-wide movement since 2016 to build public awareness against the pitfalls of reservation on caste lines and the Atrocities Act.&nbsp;

A large section of SAPAKS Samaj is backing the newly floated Anarakshit Samaj Party in this election, which is for reservation only on an economic basis. &nbsp;In the meanwhile, galvanised by a huge SAPAKS rally in Bhopal, a faction within SAPAKS Samaj that has floated a political party, also by the name of “Sapaks”, has repeatedly kept on announcing that it would be fielding candidates in all the 230 Assembly constituencies of MP even before its registration by the Election Commission of India.&nbsp;

Notwithstanding the confusion created by Sapaks Party, there is every indication that a vast majority of the youth would be voting with vengeance on the issue of reservation and the Atrocities Act in Madhya Pradesh. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

After remaining in power for 15-years, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is confronted with double anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, whereas the major opposition Congress, which was ready to forge an alliance with both the BSP and Samajwadi Party in the midst of the hype generated recently over the prospects of a grand alliance to take on the BJP in the 2019 parliamentary election, has been left alone in the two central Indian states now in the grip of poll fever.

After remaining in power for 15-years, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is confronted with double anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, whereas the major opposition Congress, which was ready to forge an alliance with both the BSP and Samajwadi Party in the midst of the hype generated recently over the prospects of a grand alliance to take on the BJP in the 2019 parliamentary election, has been left alone in the two central Indian states now in the grip of poll fever. The Congress received the first blow when shortly after announcing an alliance with Janata Congress of Ajit Jogi in Chhattisgarh in the second fortnight of September, BSP Supremo Mayawati went ahead and ruled out any kind of alliance with the Congress party in MP. The Samajwadi Party also has chosen to maintain distance from the Congress party in MP. Recently the caste factor has got precipitated due to the amendment in the SC/ST Atrocities Act at the initiative of the Modi government at the Centre and with the full support of all the political parties. This amendment was brought to undo the Supreme Court of India order directing that no one booked under the Atrocities Act should be arrested without a preliminary enquiry. The violent protests by Dalits after the apex court order and the massive Bharat Band (strike) against the amendment in the Atrocities Act indicate the magnitude of the caste divide. Obviously, therefore, driven by the motive of retaining their respective vote banks among the Dalits and the backward communities, the BSP and Samajwadi Party have chosen to go alone in MP. For the last many years, the ruling BJP has been working concertedly to expand its base in the tribal areas of MP and Chhattisgarh by building a network of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram schools and colleges. The Vivekananda Kendra functionaries have also been in the overdrive mode in the tribal areas in recent years. This has brought dividends and in successive elections, there’s been a remarkable upward swing in BJP’s electoral fortunes in the tribal belt. In the 2018 MP Assembly election, there are multiple dimensions when it comes to the battle for the Assembly seats reserved for the STs. Besides the BJP and Congress, now there is also a tribal group attracting huge crowds under the banner of Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) in western MP. After talks for seat sharing between the Congress and JAYS have failed, the Gondwana Gantantra Party, having strong roots in the tribal areas, and Samajwadi Party have decided to go together in MP and Chhattisgarh. In MP, both the ruling BJP and Congress should be ready for a backlash due to seething anger against the quota system and the Atrocities Act. The State is witnessing a crusade against the government provision for reservation in promotion for SCs and STs by an organisation called SAPAKS formed by State government officers and employees belonging to the general, backward and minority communities. SAPAKS Samaj, another body formed by citizens to extend support to the aggrieved government employees, is also spearheading a State-wide movement since 2016 to build public awareness against the pitfalls of reservation on caste lines and the Atrocities Act. A large section of SAPAKS Samaj is backing the newly floated Anarakshit Samaj Party in this election, which is for reservation only on an economic basis. In the meanwhile, galvanised by a huge SAPAKS rally in Bhopal, a faction within SAPAKS Samaj that has floated a political party, also by the name of “Sapaks”, has repeatedly kept on announcing that it would be fielding candidates in all the 230 Assembly constituencies of MP even before its registration by the Election Commission of India. Notwithstanding the confusion created by Sapaks Party, there is every indication that a vast majority of the youth would be voting with vengeance on the issue of reservation and the Atrocities Act in Madhya Pradesh. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Anti-incumbency stares BJP in the face in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Senior Congress leaders have been entrusted with the task of sorting out differences between party leaders from Madhya Pradesh over allotment of tickets for the November 28 assembly elections as talks at the central election committee meeting remained inconclusive, sources said on Thursday.

According to sources, during the meeting of the central election committee on late on Wednesday, Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia exchanged heated notes in the presence of party chief Rahul Gandhi.

The CEC meeting for Madhya Pradesh remained inconclusive after it continued till hours beyond midnight.

This was followed by a meeting of the leaders from Madhya Pradesh and the central screening committee of the state chaired by Madhusudan Mistry with Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot and M Veerappa Moily.

While batting for their respective candidates, Scindia and Singh exchanged heated notes, the sources said.

This forced Gandhi to ask Patel, Gehlot and Moily to sit with the "warring" leaders and resolve the differences, they said.

"The senior leaders have also been asked to first evolve a consensus among the various factions of Madhya Pradesh Congress and hold the next meeting," a senior leaders told PTI.

Insiders say a third meeting of the CEC, the party's body for selecting candidates, for Madhya Pradesh to be held on Thursday evening was cancelled as no consensus could be brought about between the various state leaders over party tickets.

The meeting is now likely to be held on Friday.

No candidate has been announced for the state polls.

The process of nominations for Madhya Pradesh starts Friday with the issue of gazette notification.

Asked about the issue, AICC general secretary Gehlot denied reports of any differences between the leaders and claimed that the party leadership in Madhya Pradesh was united.

"There was no such fight between the leaders as reported in a section of the media. All the leaders in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are united," he said.

Gehlot said lengthy meetings of the CEC have taken place to ensure that the candidate selection process ends soon.

"Long meetings are taking place to speed up the selection process for candidates," he said.

Singh also rejected reports about any differences with Scindia or any argument with him in Gandhi's presence.

"It is being wrongly reported in press that I and Jyotiraditya Scindia ji had any argument and Rahul ji had to intervene. All of us in MP Congress are one and determined to defeat the corrupt BJP Government in MP," he said.

Senior Congress leaders have been entrusted with the task of sorting out differences between party leaders from Madhya Pradesh over allotment of tickets for the November 28 assembly elections as talks at the central election committee meeting remained inconclusive, sources said on Thursday.

Senior Congress leaders have been entrusted with the task of sorting out differences between party leaders from Madhya Pradesh over allotment of tickets for the November 28 assembly elections as talks at the central election committee meeting remained inconclusive, sources said on Thursday. According to sources, during the meeting of the central election committee on late on Wednesday, Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia exchanged heated notes in the presence of party chief Rahul Gandhi. The CEC meeting for Madhya Pradesh remained inconclusive after it continued till hours beyond midnight. This was followed by a meeting of the leaders from Madhya Pradesh and the central screening committee of the state chaired by Madhusudan Mistry with Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot and M Veerappa Moily. While batting for their respective candidates, Scindia and Singh exchanged heated notes, the sources said. This forced Gandhi to ask Patel, Gehlot and Moily to sit with the "warring" leaders and resolve the differences, they said. "The senior leaders have also been asked to first evolve a consensus among the various factions of Madhya Pradesh Congress and hold the next meeting," a senior leaders told PTI. Insiders say a third meeting of the CEC, the party's body for selecting candidates, for Madhya Pradesh to be held on Thursday evening was cancelled as no consensus could be brought about between the various state leaders over party tickets. The meeting is now likely to be held on Friday. No candidate has been announced for the state polls. The process of nominations for Madhya Pradesh starts Friday with the issue of gazette notification. Asked about the issue, AICC general secretary Gehlot denied reports of any differences between the leaders and claimed that the party leadership in Madhya Pradesh was united. "There was no such fight between the leaders as reported in a section of the media. All the leaders in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are united," he said. Gehlot said lengthy meetings of the CEC have taken place to ensure that the candidate selection process ends soon. "Long meetings are taking place to speed up the selection process for candidates," he said. Singh also rejected reports about any differences with Scindia or any argument with him in Gandhi's presence. "It is being wrongly reported in press that I and Jyotiraditya Scindia ji had any argument and Rahul ji had to intervene. All of us in MP Congress are one and determined to defeat the corrupt BJP Government in MP," he said.

Madhya Pradesh elections: Talks over Congress's ticket allotment inconclusive

Hitting out at the Congress President, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked Rahul Gandhi about his "gotra" on Monday.

While addressing an election rally in the poll-bound state Madhya Pradesh, Patra said, "If Rahul wears a "janeu", what type of "janeu" does he wear, what is his "gotra"?

Patra's comment came in the wake of the ongoing temple visits undertaken by Rahul Gandhi.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered prayers at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on Monday. The visit was also accompanied by Congress leader Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

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Ujjain ja rahe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahulGandhi</a> ji se hum poochna chahte hain ki aap jenau dhari hain? Aap kaise jenau dhaari hain, kya gotr hai aapka?: BJP's Sambit Patra in Indore <a href="https://t.co/fjyiSWRaW0">pic.twitter.com/fjyiSWRaW0</a>
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Janeu is sacred thread worn by devout Hindu men. Gotra, in Hinduism, refers to a clan or a descendant in an unbroken line from a common male ancestor.

Last year Gandhi had undertaken several temple visits in Gujarat which was undergoing polls in December. His temple visits continued in Karnataka earlier this year during the election campaign in the state.

Calling his temple visit&nbsp;an election gimmick to woo Hindu votes, the Bhartiya Janata Party has often criticised Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi had invoked Lord Shiva while responding to the BJP's criticism of his visits during the Gujarat assembly elections last year.

"Main Shiv ka bhakt hoon, sachaai mein believe karta hoon. BJP jo bhi bole main apni sachaai mein believe karta hu (I am a devotee of Shiv. The BJP may say anything, but I will remain honest.)," Gandhi had retorted.

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Congress President Rahul Gandhi offers prayers at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/NOxi4C0r9A">pic.twitter.com/NOxi4C0r9A</a>
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Congress President Rahul Gandhi visits Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia also present. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/chQlgOeSKa">pic.twitter.com/chQlgOeSKa</a>
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"For over 70 years since independence, the Congress has been playing 'bitter' politics in the name of secularism. They have been treating Hindus as second-grade citizens," Patra said in his latest tirade against the opposition Congress party.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Hitting out at the Congress President, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked Rahul Gandhi about his "gotra" on Monday. While addressing an election rally in the poll-bound state Madhya Pradesh, Patra said, "If Rahul wears a "janeu", what type of "janeu" does he wear, what is his "gotra"?

Hitting out at the Congress President, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked Rahul Gandhi about his "gotra" on Monday. While addressing an election rally in the poll-bound state Madhya Pradesh, Patra said, "If Rahul wears a "janeu", what type of "janeu" does he wear, what is his "gotra"? Patra's comment came in the wake of the ongoing temple visits undertaken by Rahul Gandhi. Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered prayers at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on Monday. The visit was also accompanied by Congress leader Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia. Ujjain ja rahe #RahulGandhi ji se hum poochna chahte hain ki aap jenau dhari hain? Aap kaise jenau dhaari hain, kya gotr hai aapka?: BJP's Sambit Patra in Indore pic.twitter.com/fjyiSWRaW0 — ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018 × Janeu is sacred thread worn by devout Hindu men. Gotra, in Hinduism, refers to a clan or a descendant in an unbroken line from a common male ancestor. Last year Gandhi had undertaken several temple visits in Gujarat which was undergoing polls in December. His temple visits continued in Karnataka earlier this year during the election campaign in the state. Calling his temple visit an election gimmick to woo Hindu votes, the Bhartiya Janata Party has often criticised Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi had invoked Lord Shiva while responding to the BJP's criticism of his visits during the Gujarat assembly elections last year. "Main Shiv ka bhakt hoon, sachaai mein believe karta hoon. BJP jo bhi bole main apni sachaai mein believe karta hu (I am a devotee of Shiv. The BJP may say anything, but I will remain honest.)," Gandhi had retorted. Congress President Rahul Gandhi offers prayers at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/NOxi4C0r9A — ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018 × Congress President Rahul Gandhi visits Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia also present. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/chQlgOeSKa — ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2018 × "For over 70 years since independence, the Congress has been playing 'bitter' politics in the name of secularism. They have been treating Hindus as second-grade citizens," Patra said in his latest tirade against the opposition Congress party. (With inputs from agencies)

Rahul Gandhi goes to temple in Madhya Pradesh, BJP asks him his 'gotra'

Film lovers in Madhya Pradesh have been deprived of watching new releases since October 5 as over 400 theatres have downed shutters in protest against entertainment tax levied by some local bodies in the state.

A theatre owner said that entertainment tax, which had been levied over and above GST, had created an additional financial burden on the sector and was also defeating the "one nation, one tax" that GST promised.

"Goods and Services Tax of 28 per cent is levied on film tickets. Now urban local bodies, depending on their categories, have imposed additional entertainment tax ranging from 5-15 per cent. Screening of new movies have stopped since October 5 as theatres are shut," said Jitendra Jain, ex-president of Film Federation of India.

"The slogan of 'one nation, one tax' which was made when GST was imposed has been proved wrong due to this double taxation," Jain told PTI.

He said that workers employed at these theatres are in danger of losing their livelihood due to the strike, and demanded that the Union government intervene immediately.

Cinema industry sources said that big players in the sector are unwilling to pay this additional entertainment tax as it would encourage other states to impose such taxes on film tickets.

Meanwhile, sources said that the model code of conduct in place in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh was stopping the state government from taking a decision on the issue.

MP will go to polls on November 28 and counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Film lovers in Madhya Pradesh have been deprived of watching new releases since October 5 as over 400 theatres have downed shutters in protest against entertainment tax levied by some local bodies in the state.

Film lovers in Madhya Pradesh have been deprived of watching new releases since October 5 as over 400 theatres have downed shutters in protest against entertainment tax levied by some local bodies in the state. A theatre owner said that entertainment tax, which had been levied over and above GST, had created an additional financial burden on the sector and was also defeating the "one nation, one tax" that GST promised. "Goods and Services Tax of 28 per cent is levied on film tickets. Now urban local bodies, depending on their categories, have imposed additional entertainment tax ranging from 5-15 per cent. Screening of new movies have stopped since October 5 as theatres are shut," said Jitendra Jain, ex-president of Film Federation of India. "The slogan of 'one nation, one tax' which was made when GST was imposed has been proved wrong due to this double taxation," Jain told PTI. He said that workers employed at these theatres are in danger of losing their livelihood due to the strike, and demanded that the Union government intervene immediately. Cinema industry sources said that big players in the sector are unwilling to pay this additional entertainment tax as it would encourage other states to impose such taxes on film tickets. Meanwhile, sources said that the model code of conduct in place in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh was stopping the state government from taking a decision on the issue. MP will go to polls on November 28 and counting of votes will take place on December 11.

Over 400 theatres shut to protest against MP entertainment tax

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday mimicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his rally in Madhya Pradesh and attacked him on various policies and alleged scams.&nbsp;

While addressing the people at Morena, he said: "When Modiji became the Prime Minister, he said, Mitron....don't make me PM, make me chowkidar. The chowkidar calls people 'Mitron' and to Anil Ambani, he calls Anil bhai."

Gandhi, who is currently in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh for a two-day rally has been attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the Rafale deal and scams involving Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Congress President Rahul Gandhi mimics PM Modi at a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena. <a href="https://t.co/kTI8Trqpwm">pic.twitter.com/kTI8Trqpwm</a>
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He had made similar statements against Modi earlier, saying that he would address Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi as "bhai".&nbsp;

Gandhi visited a gurudwara in Gwalior on Tuesday on the second day of campaigning in Madhya Pradesh. He also met Congress cadres in the morning and later paid obeisance at the Data Bandi Chhor Gurudwara, located in the Gwalior Fort.

Gandhi had visited <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/adivasis-dalits-minorities-are-exploited-under-bjp-rahul-gandhi-in-morena-169836">Madhya Pradesh</a> earlier this month as well where he said that Modi government made false promises of turning black money into white and that farmers, Adivasis, Dalits, and minorities are exploited under BJP.&nbsp;

Elections to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will be held on 28 November 2018 to elect members of the 230 constituencies.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday mimicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his rally in Madhya Pradesh and attacked him on various policies and alleged scams.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday mimicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his rally in Madhya Pradesh and attacked him on various policies and alleged scams. While addressing the people at Morena, he said: "When Modiji became the Prime Minister, he said, Mitron....don't make me PM, make me chowkidar. The chowkidar calls people 'Mitron' and to Anil Ambani, he calls Anil bhai." Gandhi, who is currently in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh for a two-day rally has been attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the Rafale deal and scams involving Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya. #WATCH: Congress President Rahul Gandhi mimics PM Modi at a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena. pic.twitter.com/kTI8Trqpwm — ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2018 × He had made similar statements against Modi earlier, saying that he would address Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi as "bhai". Gandhi visited a gurudwara in Gwalior on Tuesday on the second day of campaigning in Madhya Pradesh. He also met Congress cadres in the morning and later paid obeisance at the Data Bandi Chhor Gurudwara, located in the Gwalior Fort. Gandhi had visited Madhya Pradesh earlier this month as well where he said that Modi government made false promises of turning black money into white and that farmers, Adivasis, Dalits, and minorities are exploited under BJP. Elections to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will be held on 28 November 2018 to elect members of the 230 constituencies.

Mitron: Rahul mimics Modi at MP rally; watch video

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