The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to deploy senior leaders, including three Union ministers, in the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, and this strategy could extend to other poll-bound states such as Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. The goal is to bolster the party’s chances of securing seats where it has faced challenges in the past.
Rajasthan’s Unique Contest
In Rajasthan, the BJP is embarking on a distinctive electoral journey as it refrains from projecting a chief ministerial candidate. Speculation is rife about prominent figures entering the state polls, including Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Junior Parliamentary Affairs Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, and Jaipur (Rural) MP Rajyavardhan Rathore.
However, Shekhawat, a leading contender for the chief minister’s post, faces hurdles due to reports of infighting among state leaders. The BJP’s top leadership has opted not to endorse any chief ministerial candidate, leaving the decision to the elected MLAs. Former CM Vasundhara Raje is reportedly actively campaigning to be projected as the party’s face, adding another layer of complexity. Shekhawat must navigate this internal discord along with resistance from CM Ashok Gehlot.
Telangana’s Central Leadership
In Telangana, four MPs, including Union Minister and state chief G K Reddy, are expected to participate actively in the elections. The move to deploy central leaders in Madhya Pradesh has raised eyebrows, as it could signify a precursor to similar experiments in other states.
Madhya Pradesh’s Electoral Strategy
In Madhya Pradesh, two Union ministers, Narendra Singh Tomar and Faggan Singh Kulaste, will contest from seats previously held by the Congress in 2018. Additionally, three Lok Sabha MPs will vie for seats where the Congress emerged victorious in the last polls. Party sources have dismissed reports suggesting that CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan will not contest the elections.
As the political landscape evolves in these states, the BJP’s strategic deployment of prominent leaders aims to enhance its electoral prospects and secure a stronger foothold in the upcoming assembly elections.
