Congress drops Betul candidate, fields defector

Though speculation was rife from the day Shah switched loyalty, the Congress allowed Chouhan to campaign. Both leaders were present when the state leadership announced the defection on March 18 and categorically ruled out any such possibility.

Ajay’s younger brother Vijay Shah is Food and Civil Supplies Minister. Ajay maintained that he had joined the Congress unconditionally. However, it was clear that he left the BJP only because the party chose to field sitting MP Jyoti Dhurve in the tribal constituency.

The Shah family wields a considerable influence among tribal population. Insisting that he tried to persuade his elder brother against defecting, the minister had claimed he would resign and campaign against his brother if the Congress fielded him from Betul.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh’s brother Laxman Singh would be the Congress nominee against Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj in Vidisha. Laxman Singh filed his nomination Friday.