Betul outcome to impact assembly polls

Bhopal, Apr 17: The Betul by-election outcome is to impact assembly elections scheduled in November this year. Buoyed by Betul result, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is likely to have a greater say in ticket distribution. The results have given Chief Minister a scope to be assertive in preparing ground for the assembly elections. The performing MLAs would be given ticket and non-performing to be denied.

Even those ministers in whose constituencies, the party was defeated might face the tunes. Informed sources feel in the event of poor showing Chouhan would have been dependent upon party leadership and high command, but now his recommendations and views would find bigger space in the next round of assembly elections. Since, the ruling BJP lost two assembly segments Harda and Masaud, it indicates that the party is losing base in these segments. Similarly, resentment of voters toward Ghodadongari MLA was evident and victory was possible only by keeping the MLA away.

Similarly, the Betul outcome shows that factionalism has bounced back in Madhya Pradesh Congress despite State Congress President Suresh Pachauri’s efforts to take everyone along. But disgruntled men are likely to make noises in coming days too and making the road ahead difficult. Pachauri has already initiated efforts to strengthen the party upto block-level and chalked out detailed plan to visit each assembly constituency within few months. Political observers believe that the verdict has also indicated that the direct fight in the assembly elections would be between major political parties BJP and Congress only. Other political parties including Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) would play little role. The BSP had kept itself aloof from Betul by-election, but it is making all out efforts to make its base throughout the state. Thus, it is believed that it might affect equation in several constituencies, particularly, bordering Uttar Pradesh.