BJP loses safest seat Vidisha after 46 years

BJP lost Vidisha—considered to be its safest seat in MP so far, on Tuesday. Congress candidate Shashank Shrikishan Bhargav defeated BJP’s Mukesh Tandon with a margin of around 15,000 votes. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan had won Vidisha assembly constituency in 2013 assembly polls. Vidisha constituency was the BJP’s safe bet since 1977.
Chief minister Chouhan had contested and won from Vidisha and Budhni in 2013 assembly elections.After which, he vacated Vidisha necessitating a crucial byelection in 2014 and his trusted aide Mukesh Tandon was fielded and he won against Congress candidate, Shashank Shrikishan Bhargav.
The last time Congress had won the Vidisha assembly constituency was in 1972 assembly polls. Bhargav ended Congress’ 46-year drought for Vidisha seat. Congress fielded Bhargav from Vidisha seat for the fourth time in a row.
Vidisha was considered as one of the safest seats for BJP not only in assembly polls, but also for Lok Sabha. Minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj is MP from the seat for past two terms. Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former PM, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee has represented Vidisha in Lok Sabha.
Vidisha seat continued to remain in focus for BJP this assembly polls. Modi held a rally in Vidisha on November 25- second last day of camapign in state.
CM Chouhan did road shows in the district and addressed rallies for Tandon. On the other hand, Bhargav, a trusted aide of Suresh Pachouri, held his fort alone and no big leader of Congress campaigned for him in Vidisha.