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BJP fields Mahesh Kewat as third Rajya Sabha candidate in Madhya Pradesh, turning a numerically pro Congress seat into a test of Congress unity over Meenakshi Natarajan
BJP’s Mahesh Kewat and Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan file nomination for Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. (Source: PTI)
The Rajya Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh have taken an interesting turn, with the BJP’s decision to field a third candidate transforming what was expected to be a routine election into a test of Congress unity.
The BJP’s move has also brought simmering discontent within the Opposition to the fore over the nomination of Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan.
Arithmetically, the third seat is considered to be in Congress’s favour. Politically, however, the BJP’s strategy appears to be less about winning the seat and more about compelling the Congress to publicly demonstrate its unity at a time when sections of its state leadership remain unhappy with the high command’s choice, functionaries from both parties told The Indian Express.
By nominating Mahesh Kewat for the third seat, the BJP has shifted the contest beyond mere numbers, turning it into a test of loyalty within the Congress ranks.
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“The BJP knows that arithmetic is difficult. But elections like these are often about exposing contradictions within rival parties. Even if the Congress wins, the BJP would consider it a success if it can make internal dissatisfaction visible,” said a senior BJP leader.
Kewat Vs Natarajan: Parties Gear Up For Poll Fight
The BJP and the Congress have now shifted into election management mode. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held discussions with senior BJP leaders, following which the party decided to field Mahesh Kewat. Party leaders have also been asked to remain in Bhopal until the elections.
Meanwhile, the Congress has been publicly rallying behind Meenakshi Natarajan by convening legislature party meetings, bringing MLAs to Bhopal, and mobilising leaders across rival factions, including former chief ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, state Congress chief Jitu Patwari, and Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar.
The Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh are being held for three seats. For the other two seats, the BJP has nominated Tarun Chugh and Rajneesh Agrawal.
Also Read: Rajya Sabha Polls: Congress Eyes Shifting MLAs From MP, Jharkhand As Cross-Voting Shadow Looms Large
Days before Kewat’s candidature was formally announced, senior BJP leaders, including state Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, had hinted at the possibility of the party fielding a third candidate.
Those remarks quickly fuelled speculation as they came amid discussions over Natarajan’s selection as the Congress nominee. According to The Indian Express, several senior Congress leaders had hoped that the party high command would choose a candidate with a stronger organisational base in Madhya Pradesh.
Natarajan’s Nomination Angers Congress Leaders, Triggers Resignation
As soon as Natarajan’s candidature was announced, signs of discomfort surfaced from within the Congress itself.
Senior party leader Naresh Gyanchandani publicly questioned the decision and warned that the move could create conditions of cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha election.
“There has been a major oversight in the candidate for Rajya Sabha…there is a risk of cross-voting here, if Singh had been renominated, the seat would have been safe,” Gyanchandani said.
As soon as Natarajan filed her nomination papers, Gyanchandani submitted his resignation.
He said he decided to quit after the state leadership objected to a tweet in which he had sought to draw Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s attention to concerns over Natarajan’s selection.
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“I have regularly tweeted to Rahul Gandhi from time to time in the interest of the party. Yet, after serving the Congress honestly for 37 years, it is painful that a single tweet to Rahul Gandhi was not acceptable to the Madhya Pradesh leadership,” Gyanchandani said.
The Congress leadership quickly rallied behind its official nominee, but the controversy surrounding the selection provided the BJP with an opportunity to argue that the choice lacked unanimous support within the state unit.
At the same time, party leaders privately admitted that the electoral numbers may not be as straightforward as they appear. Uncertainty over the pending disqualification proceedings against Bina MLA Nirmala Sapre, who has since aligned with the BJP, has cast doubt on the Congress’s effective strength in the Assembly.
Though no senior leader publicly challenged the party’s decision, several Congress functionaries acknowledged in private that the nomination had left many aspirants and their supporters disappointed.
“The issue is not Meenakshiji personally. Most leaders respect her integrity. The concern was that the state unit was not adequately consulted and that local political considerations were overlooked,” said a Congress leader, as reported by The Indian Express.
Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader said some party members viewed the nomination as a sign that the central leadership had prioritised organisational loyalty over state-level political considerations.
How Congress Reacted To Opposition Over Natarajan’s Nomination?
The Congress leadership has spent the past week making a concerted effort to project unity behind its Rajya Sabha nominee, Meenakshi Natarajan.
State Congress president Jitu Patwari has repeatedly asserted that all party legislators stand firmly behind her candidature, while Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar has also expressed confidence that Congress MLAs will vote as one.
The party has convened meetings of legislators and senior leaders in a bid to reinforce a message of cohesion and organisational discipline.
Who Is Meenakshi Natarajan?
Meenakshi Natarajan’s political journey has largely been shaped by her organisational roles within the Congress.
A former Youth Congress president and later a Congress general secretary, she is widely regarded as being close to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and is known within the party for her organisational experience and disciplined image.
However, her standing with the central leadership does not necessarily translate into influence over the current crop of Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh. Unlike veterans such as Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, who continue to command distinct support bases within the state unit, Natarajan is not seen as having a sizeable faction among sitting legislators.
This dynamic is central to the BJP’s strategy. Party strategists believe the Rajya Sabha election provides an opportunity to gauge whether Congress legislators will remain united behind the official nominee despite internal preferences and factional loyalties.
The choice of Mahesh Kewat as the BJP’s third candidate also carries a political message. Rather than fielding a heavyweight leader, the party has opted for a candidate whose nomination shifts the focus beyond a straightforward contest for a seat.
Will BJP Clinch A Landslide Win In Madhya Pradesh?
Under the proportional representation system used for Rajya Sabha elections, candidates must secure a fixed quota of votes determined by the effective strength of the Assembly.
The BJP currently holds a commanding majority with 163 members in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, while the Congress is the principal opposition with 66 MLAs.
With each candidate requiring 58 first-preference votes for victory, the BJP has the numbers to comfortably win two seats. The contest for the third seat, however, has emerged as the key battleground, as the Congress has just enough strength to stay in the race but very little margin for error.
It is this tight arithmetic that appears to have shaped the BJP’s decision to field a third candidate.
About the Author
Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st…Read More
Bhopal, India, India
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