Ambedkar memorial vandalised, allegations fly after bypoll in tense Madhya Pradesh seat

State Congress president Jitu Patwari claimed that the state machinery was blatantly misused to benefit the BJP during the bypolls to Vijaypur and Budhni Assembly segments on Wednesday. He further alleged, “A reign of terror was unleashed on Jatavs (a Dalit community) and tribal people in Vijaypur before and after the by-elections on Wednesday. The BJP went on a rampage. Many tribal-dominated areas came under their attack. The properties of Dalits were torched. BJP workers also desecrated a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at night.”

PTI quoted Madhya Pradesh BJP president V D Sharma as saying, “No rigging or any poll-related malpractice took place in both the constituencies. The EC conducted free and fair elections. We did not indulge in any sort of violence. In fact, the Congress tried to use violence but failed. The BJP fought the bypoll using fair means, and it will sweep them.”

Sheopur district Additional Superintendent of Police Satyendra Singh Tomar told The Indian Express: “In the case of vandalism, we have registered an FIR. There were no homes set on fire, but a sack of paddy was set ablaze. We visited the spot and spoke to the residents and no one has come forward with any complaints. We have, however, deployed staff to maintain peace in the region.”

The incident occurred in Gohta village after voting concluded late on Wednesday. According to information, there was ruckus in the village, with people pelting stones and vandalising property.

Voting day also witnessed violence in the Veerpur area of Vijaypur after a fight broke out between two groups during polling, leaving two-three injured.

Ahead of polling, authorities had moved the two major candidates, BJP’s Ramniwas Rawat and Congress’s Mukesh Malhotra, to a guest house, citing safety reasons. ASP Tomar said this was a precautionary move “because tension was visible among the workers of the two parties”.

Violence in Vijaypur started two days before the bypolls, when a group of people opened fire at village residents, injuring three. Back-to-back incidents of violence sparked outrage and calls for immediate intervention of authorities to ensure security.

The bypoll was necessitated after sitting MLA Ramniwas Rawat, who had been with the Congress, resigned from the party and the Assembly before joining the BJP.

(With PTI inputs)