Cong,BJP slug it out in Jebera by-poll

In order to revive the party’s sagging morale,Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appointed Union Minister for Tribal Welfare Kantilal Bhuria as the new chief of the state unit,replacing former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri.

“This is the first test for Bhuria,Leader of Opposition,Ajay Singh and senior Congress leader Harvansh Singh among others to prove their credentials in the state,” said a senior Congress leader.

“Retaining this seat will be a real test for the new team,” said former Union Minister and senior party leader Aslam Sher Khan.

The Congress nominee for the by-election is 26-year-old Tanya Solomon,daughter of Ratnesh Solomon whose death caused the election.

After the Congress’s poor show in the last Assembly polls and various by-polls in which BJP wrested Kukshi and Sonkatch seats from the Opposition,the Congress high command has appointed new leaders at the instance of former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh to revive the party in MP.

“The party is determined and is fighting the by-poll unitedly to retain the Jebera seat,” said Congress spokesperson K K Mishra.

On the other hand BJP is also leaving no stone unturned to continue its winning streak.

The state BJP chief Prabhat Jha is spending a lot of time in Jebera to ensure his party romps home from there.

The BJP is banking on its top leaders minus recently re-inducted firebrand party leader Uma Bharti to lead the party’s poll campaign which has raised the eyebrows in the party circle,BJP members said.

In order to corner on the dominant Lodhi votes in the Jebera constituency,the BJP has fielded Dashrath Singh Lodhi in the by-poll,while to cash on the sympathy votes,the Congress has given ticket to Tanya Solomon.