In MP, BJP seeks votes for surgical and air strike

Can Congress cash in on its improved performance in the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh?

The state joined the battle for Lok Sabha through the first round on Monday after nationwide voting has already taken place for 302 out 542 seats in three phases.

Six seats from Vindhya and Mahakoshal region-- Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat and Chhindwara of the State’s 29 constituencies were involved in the fourth phase on Monday. BJP had in 2014 won five of the six seats. It had also won 33 out of the 47 assembly segments then. Congress wrested back 11 of them in December to restore the balance at 25—21.

On Monday the six seats recorded 57 per cent voter turnout according to official figures available till 5.30 pm. Barring the Maoist-affected Baiher, Lanji and Paraswada assembly segments under Balaghat parliamentary seat polling was conducted from 7 am to 6 pm. In the affected areas the schedule was from 7 am to 4 pm.

Besides the six Lok Sabha seats, polling took place for by-election to Chhindwara Assembly constituency where Chief Minister Kamal Nath is in the fray. BJP has fielded former Youth Congress activist Vivek Sahu (Bunty) against the chief minister. Congress MLA Deepak Saxena quit Chhindwara Assembly seat to make a way for Kamal Nath. There are nine candidates in the fray but the focus remains on Kamal Nath and Sahu. After taking over as chief minister Kamal Nath needs to get elected to the state Legislature within six months.

While recent success in the assembly elections in the region has boosted the Congress, BJP is banking on Narendra Modi’s popularity. As if to drive home the point BJP workers are going around all constituency with leaflets that list Modi government’s achievements that include the post-Pulwama show. There is no mention of the local candidate in the leaflet that seems to have been released by the Central leadership.

This despite the election commission having barred the ruling party from usurping the armed forces’ valour for electoral promotion.

Three government employees, including a lady died in separate incidents while on poll duty in the state, state Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao informed.

Sunanda Kotekar, 50, deployed at Lodhikheda polling booth in Saunsar segment of Chhindwara was taken ill on Sunday night. She died of cardiac arrest even before she could be provided medical assistance.

In another incident, an assistant sub-inspector detailed for security duty died after suffering a heart attack in Sidhi district on Monday morning, Rao said.

Another staff member posted at Seoni in Balaghat Lok Sabha seat suffered brain hemorrhage and succumbed to it on Sunday evening, he said. His name could not be confirmed.

In the run-up to polling there was violence in Balaghat. Maoists allegedly set afire a SUV belonging to Kishore Samrite an independent candidate. Samrite said he was held hostage before being let off.

Congress veteran Kamal Nath had won from his bastion Chhindwara, where his son Nakul Nath is the party candidate this time for the Lok Sabha polls.

State BJP president Rakesh Singh and former Union minister and BJP's tribal face Faggan Singh Kulaste are contesting from Jabalpur and Mandla, respectively.

In the last leg of electioneering for the six Lok Sabha seats, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in Sidhi and Jabalpur whereas Congress chief Rahul Gandhi addressed public meetings in Shahdol and Jabalpur.