Political tensions are escalating in Madhya Pradesh as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision to nominate a third candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections has unsettled the Congress. Most MLAs, except for a few, are reportedly heading to Karnataka, although the exact location remains undisclosed.
Sources indicate that the departure to Karnataka is scheduled to commence around 2 p.m. on Tuesday to ensure unity among legislators and prevent any last-minute defections. While some senior MLAs will stay in Bhopal for coordination purposes, the reason for the mass exodus remains undisclosed, with some MLAs mentioning personal reasons for their departure.
Chief whip Sohan Valmiki revealed that the majority of MLAs, accompanied by their families, will be flying to Karnataka on the party’s directive. With the BJP holding a significant majority in the state Assembly, the party aims to secure all three seats, prompting the Congress to take measures to safeguard its candidate’s chances.
The BJP has nominated three candidates for the seats, including national general secretary Tarun Chugh, state unit secretary Rajneesh Agrawal, and Mahesh Kevat. On the other hand, the Congress has fielded Meenakshi Natarajan for the vacant seat. Both parties have finalized their candidates, setting the stage for a competitive election on June 18.
Amid speculations of possible cross-voting from Congress ranks, the party leadership has decided to move its MLAs to Bengaluru in Karnataka to prevent poaching attempts. The Congress has accused the BJP of breaching democratic norms by fielding a third candidate despite lacking the required numbers on paper.
