Bhopal: The results of the July 30 by-elections to the Datia Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh, scheduled to be declared on Monday, may impact state politics.
With dissident BJP leader Narottam Mishra making his displeasure public over denial of a party ticket for the by-elections and subsequently turning it an emotive issue during the electioneering of the party, many in the BJP feel that ‘victory or loss of BJP candidate’ will certainly impact the politics in the ruling party.
If BJP loses, attempts may be made by an influential section of the party to shift the blame to Mr. Mishra and if the party candidate wins, then credit will go to the combine of chief minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, several party leaders predicted.
“But shifting blame to Mr. Mishra in the event of BJP losing in the by-elections, may also not work for the state leadership since BJP does not believe in excuses in poll defeats”, a senior BJP leader said.
“Haar to Haar hota hai (Defeat is after all a defeat), is the dictum that BJP believes in”, he added.
In case of a solid victory by the BJP, the hands of Mr. Yadav and Mr. Khandelwal will be strengthened further, he said.
Congress leaders are also waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the by-elections.
The launch of a pitched campaign by the Congress post-by-elections accusing the ruling party of misusing government machinery and flaunting money power to influence the voters during the polling is a clear indication of the importance being given to the poll outcome by the state Congress leadership, a senior party functionary told this newspaper on Sunday.
State Congress president Jitu Patwari was heard issuing a ‘stern warning’ in public to the police officers posted in Datia of ‘serious consequences’ if they were found to be siding with the ruling BJP in the by-elections to influence the outcome of the polls.
BJP has, however, countered the charges, describing them as ‘manifestation of growing sense of insecurity in Mr. Patwari over his party position if Congress candidate Ghanashyam Singh loses the by-elections’.
Several senior Congress leaders have corroborated the BJP’s view privately, predicting that the loss of Datia by-polls by Congress may hasten the process of Mr.Patwari’s removal from the party post.
But a win for the Congress in the polls will help Mr. Patwari firm up his grip over the party by ruthlessly crushing growing dissent against him in Congress, they said.
“Even a loss with a slender margin by the Congress may also be a saving grace for Mr. Patwari”, a party leader said.
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