CM Yadav’s Statement Heightens Suspense Over BJP’s 3rd Candidate, Party Still Faces Dilemma Over It
Incidentally, a statement by the chief minister later has revived the speculations that BJP may be considering fielding a third candidate to win all the three RS seats in the state: Reports
BHOPAL: The ruling BJP is still facing a dilemma as to whether the party will run a third candidate in the June 18 biennial polls to three seats in Madhya Pradesh.
This is evident from the contradictory statements given by state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal and chief minister Mohan Yadav on the issue late on Saturday.
Mr. Khandelwal, while replying to reporters here, has sought to put at rest all speculations on BJP fielding a third candidate in the ensuing RS polls in Madhya Pradesh, saying that ‘The party has no such plan’.
“We have not thought about it (fielding a third candidate)’, he has said.
Incidentally, a statement by the chief minister later has revived the speculations that BJP may be considering fielding a third candidate to win all the three RS seats in the state.
“The third RS seat will come, I mean, where else it would go?”, Mr. Yadav retorted while replying to a question by the reporters in Indore on the issue.
He however refused to clarify further on the matter.
The state party leadership has also asked all its MLAs to be present in Bhopal on Monday, thus further adding grist to the speculation on its third candidate.
Amid confusing signals from the BJP on the issue, the political circles here are abuzz with ‘wild speculations’ on former chief minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath being roped in by the BJP to become its third candidate or an independent nominee to be supported by the saffron outfit, in the upcoming RS polls in the state.
However, sources in Mr. Nath’s camp said that the veteran leader may not be thinking to switch sides at the fag end of his political career for a RS seat.
Significantly, Mr. Nath while attending a party meeting virtually late on Saturday night said that ‘It is a matter of prestige for the party to ensure victory of our RS candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’.
A senior BJP leader has also confirmed that BJP is still in a dilemma whether to field the third candidate.
“May be, may not be”, the BJP functionary in the know of the things quipped.
Amid growing suspense on the issue, Congress has begun to brace the party to prevent cross voting in the polls.
“The party is fully prepared for the coming RS polls. Our candidate will win and there will be no cross voting in the party”, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari said.
