Followed by the announcement of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election date, discontent is simmering within the party due to grievances over ticket distribution. Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP), Lakshmi Narayan Yadav, has expressed dissatisfaction because the party did not grant a ticket to his son, Sudhir Yadav, for the upcoming Assembly polls.
The former BJP MP stated, “I have always been a rebel against injustice. Now, injustice has been done to Sudhir Yadav (referring to his son not receiving a ticket). If he chooses to rebel, there’s no issue.” When asked how he would respond in such a situation, he mentioned that he would run for elections and campaign for his son if Sudhir chose to contest. He also criticized the BJP’s central leadership, stating, “The BJP high command is currently in a peculiar situation. They are acting imperiously and are unresponsive.”
Meanwhile, the former MP indicated that he would not campaign at all if his son Sudhir decided not to run in the elections. On the other hand, BJP leader Sudhir Yadav commented, “I will make a decision about contesting the election after consulting with our supporters and party workers.”
Regarding speculations of potentially joining the Congress or the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sudhir Yadav acknowledged that both parties had approached him. He emphasized his dedication to the Banda constituency and expressed his intent to contest the election from that constituency.
It’s worth noting that the BJP had already declared its candidate for the Banda Constituency in its initial list of candidates released on August 17. Political analysts point out that there are more than two lakh voters from the ‘Yadav community’ in Sagar district, a significant factor in the Assembly elections.
According to a report by PTI, many believe that voters from the Yadav community may be discontented because the BJP did not field any Yadav candidates in the Assembly seats of Sagar district. Given the influence of former MP Lakshmi Narayan Yadav in the Yadav community in the district, Sudhir Yadav’s exclusion from the BJP ticket might impact the party’s prospects in Khurai, Banda, Narayawali, and Surkhi Assembly seats in the district.
The Election Commission of India recently announced the schedule for the State Assembly poll. The State Assembly election in Madhya Pradesh is set to take place on November 17, with the counting of votes scheduled for December 3. The Model Code of Conduct has been enforced following the announcement of the poll date.