Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2023: As the polls are inching closer in Madhya Pradesh with each passing hour, persuading its rebels to step aside and make way for party candidates is becoming a tough row to hoe for Congress. About 35 Congress rebels are still in the fray in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election with only eight hours left to take back the nomination. Candidates can withdraw their names till 3 pm on Thursday, hence the senior party leaders going as high as Delhi are trying to convince the rebels by hook or the crook.
From State Congress President Kamal Nath, and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh to all the senior leaders, through their contacts, are trying to convince the leaders and workers who are angry with the ticket distribution. These rebels will certainly harm the party's prospect of regaining power in the state as many rebels command significant influence on the public as well as the Congress cadre in their constituencies.
The band of rebels
Congress's emphasis is more on convincing those leaders who can cause loss to the party candidates based on caste and local equations. These include Dr Antar Singh Darbar, former MLA from Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow) assembly seat, Premchand Guddu, former MP from Alot, Shekhar Chaudhary, former MLA from Goregaon seat of Narsinghpur district, Jitendra Daga, former MLA from Huzur and Jaikant Singh from Bargi seat of Jabalpur district. Congress is also considering Nasir Islam as a challenge from the Bhopal North seat.
The wooing continues
Senior leaders are communicating and trying to woo these rebel leaders. The Bhopal unit has been asked to convince Nasir using their contacts. Efforts are also being made to convince Aamir Akil, brother of current MLA Arif Akil. Sources say that along with the candidates, the relatives of the rebel leaders have also been asked to make efforts at their level because their presence in the election field may affect the electoral prospects of the party. The party has also had success in some places. DP Dhakad from Javra has assured that even though there is pressure from supporters to contest the elections, he will withdraw his nomination in the interest of the party. Dr. VVS Chauhan, who filed a nomination from Kotma, has decided not to contest the elections.
Vinod Srivastava, who filed an independent nomination from the Panagar seat of Jabalpur, was convinced by Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha. State President of Congress Media Department, KK Mishra says that the angry workers will be convinced in time. For this, senior leaders of the party are holding talks and the district units are also working at their level. Everyone is respected in Congress and will always be so. Whatever little discord there is, that too will end.