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Journalism of Courage
As the Madhya Pradesh battle heats up, and given the BJP leadership’s focus on central leadership to battle the fatigue factor against incumbent CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a lot of eyes will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in a programme marking the celebration of the 125th founder’s day of The Scindia School in Gwalior on Saturday.
As per an official statement, the PM will lay the foundation stone of a multipurpose sports complex in the school and present its annual awards to distinguished alumni and top achievers.
The Scindia School was established in 1897 by the Gwalior royalty to which Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, crucial to the BJP’s game in the Gwalior-Chambal region, belongs. And this visit could be read by many as the BJP top leadership’s signal underlining Scindia’s importance to the BJP.
In an interview with Liz Mathew, Scindia, who joined the party in 2020 after defecting from the Congress, said: “The BJP is my family. I grew up with the BJP around me. My grandmother (Vijayaraje Scindia) was one of the founding figures of the BJP. My father (Madhavrao Scindia) started his political career in the BJP… Even when in the Congress, I had wonderful relationships with many in the BJP. The BJP was always home.”
Asked which seat he would be fielded from if he gets a ticket just as other Union ministers and MPs, he said he would not answer “hypothetical” questions. But with seats yet to be declared by the BJP, the question remains.
Meanwhile, the nomination filing process in Madhya Pradesh, which goes to polls on November 17, will begin Saturday. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 23.
With all but one of its candidates locked after its second list of 88 candidates, the Congress saw disgruntled leaders take to the streets on Friday. Protests erupted at several places in the state with party workers expressing disappointment over the names of some nominees and denial of tickets to others.
Congress workers in Burhanpur, Shujalpur, the Seoni-Malwa, Jaora and Alot seats were among those who held protests. Among those holding agitations is former Congress Lok Sabha member Premchand Guddu, who was expecting a seat from Alot. Sitting MLA Manoj Chawla is the party candidate.
Another group of Congress workers burnt an effigy of party candidate Himmat Shrimal, who has been fielded by the party from Jaora seat in Ratlam district.
While it may be dealing with some of this discontentment, the party has made calculated moves with the list. As Anand Mohan J reported, the Congress made course corrections in three seats, denying tickets to as many as eight MLAs and also named five BJP turncoats.
In Mizoram, which will vote on November 7, Friday was the last day for filing of nominations. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on Saturday and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 23. As Sukrita Baruah reports, Mizoram is considered to be a three-way contest, with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) aiming for another term, the Congress hoping to make a comeback after a poor show in 2018, and the much-younger Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) emerging as a serious contender.
The MNF is expected to again lean heavily on its claims of being a champion of ‘Mizo nationalism’. “The MNF was born out of Mizo nationalism in 1961, and this continues to be its foundation,” says MNF leader and Cabinet minister Robert Royte
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will pay homage to the martyrs on Police Commemoration Day at National Police Memorial in New Delhi on Saturday.
Party president JP Nadda will make his way to Kolkata as part of Durga Puja celebrations.
Watch out for: The Neerja Chowdhury Column, who reads the straws in the political wind with the experience of covering 10 general elections behind her.
