BJP ropes in eight ministers in MP to avenge Chitrakoot defeat

BHOPAL: Stung by a humiliating defeat in Chitrakoot assembly bypoll, the state BJP has planned to change its strategy for Mungaoli and Kolaras constituencies where by-elections are likely to be held in December or January. The party has roped in eight top ministers in the region with a hope to upset the applecart of Scindia clan in the region. After the first crucial meeting of election management team, the saffron party appointed as full time in-charge Arvind Bhadoria, former MLA from Ater (Bhind) in Mungaoli constituency in Ashoknagar district and Rameshwar Sharma, MLA from Hujur (Bhopal), in Kolaras of Shivpuri district.
In order to boost its prospects in the two seats, the party has fielded four ministers of Shivraj Singh cabinet in Mungaoli — home minister Bhupendra Singh, energy minister Paras Jain, higher education minister Jaibhan Singh Pavaiya and public relations minister Narottam Mishra. In Kolaras, the saffron party has fielded four prominent ministers — revenue minister Umashankar Gupta, health minister Rustam Singh, MoS for SCs development and GAD Lal Singh Arya and MoS for cooperatives Vishwas Sarang. ?"?I have been given responsibility of Kolaras seat, while Arvind Bhadoria has been assigned duty in Mungaoli. I have three ministers to work with, while the party has fielded four ministers in Mungaoli. We will hold our first meeting on November 16", MLA Rameshwar Sharma told TOI.?
?Bypoll to Mungaoli assembly seat was necessitated due to the death of former Congress minister Mahendra Singh Kalukheda?, who had a big influence in the entire region. On Diwali, senior Congress MLA from Kolaras Ram Singh Yadav had passed away after a cardiac arrest. ?Sources in BJP said that state leadership is shocked by the result of Chitrakoot bypoll where party state general secretary Vishnu Dutt Sharma and his team were assigned duty. From the selection of candidate to public meetings, everything was planned by them. But, the party had to bite the dust.
"It was a big jolt for us as the victory margin of rival Congress reached 14000 votes from 12000 during previous assembly poll. The party reviewed the cause of defeat and decided to change the guard to wrest two important seats from Congress. However, situation in Mungaoli and Kolaras is much different from that in Chitrakoot, and we will win the seats”, a senior party official said.
"Bhadoria and Sharma have been assigned duty as per the party's requirement in the region. Party assigns duty and responsibility to different office-bearers in different regions. There is no correlation between previous and coming elections. The previous team members did their job well and the party would review the situation as and when necessary", said BJP state spokesperson Deepak Vijayavargiya.
Sources said the saffron party has planned to launch a massive campaign in both the constituencies, announcing major sops and welfare schemes to woo voters. Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha and state organising general secretary Suhas Bhagat will supervise both the teams.