Sanver, Khargone bypolls acid test for Cong chief, CM

Friday could also prove to be a turning point for Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Subhash Yadav, whose son Arun is the party’s candidate in Khargone. The outcome will decide whether Yadav Senior succeeds in holding on to the post of PCC chief.

For some time the high command has been receiving complaints against him from senior leaders seeking his expulsion on the ground that the former deputy chief minister was inarticulate and lacked the ability to revive the demoralised cadres. Despite the growing chorus of those opposed to him, Yadav has somehow managed to win the trust of the high command. But Khargone could be his last chance, as several leaders were waiting in the wings, both to displace him and to occupy the party’s highest post in the state. Union Minister Suresh Pachauri, Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and former minister Harbans Singh were among the contenders for the post of PCC chief.

Yadav is the MLA from Kasrawad, a part of the Khargone Lok Sabha constituency. With the campaigning on in full steam, he chose to stay put on his home turf, even excusing himself from the Winter Session of the state Assembly. Scindia’s supporter Tulsi Silawat is the Congress candidate from Sanver, where the erstwhile royal has campaigned vigorously.

The results will be equally important for Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is battling corruption charges. The dumper issue has galvanised the Opposition and managed to throw dirt at Chouhan, who had till now enjoyed a clean image. Moreover, the ruling party has lost the Sidhi (Lok Sabha), Shivpuri and Lanji (Assembly) bypolls since Chouhan took over as CM.

The recent talk of Uma Bharati’s return to the BJP had given the CM sleepless nights, especially since it was her party, the Bharatiya Janshakti, that raked up the dumper issue before the opposition Congress. A BJP victory would make Chouhan feel at ease. Though Bharati’s party is contesting both the bypolls, the recent episode surrounding her return has taken the punch out of her campaign.