Elections 2019: BJP May Lose MP’s Balaghat seat, Rebel Bodh Singh To Affect Poll Results

Bhopal: Balaghat, the only Parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh infested by left wing extremism, has been favourable towards the BJP, with the right wing party winning the seat in the last five general elections.

Balaghat is a tribal dominated area which has a large number of Pawar and Lodhi community voters and is surrounded by mountains and lush green forests. The district has Asia’s deepest and largest copper mines - Malanjkhand and Kanha National Park. It is also important as it connects the state to Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

Even though this is traditionally a BJP constituency, this time it is hard to predict the results due to rebel BJP MP Bodh Singh Bhagat. Bhagat is fighting as an independent candidate after the party gave the ticket to former MLA Dhal Singh Bisen.
Both, Bodh Singh and Bisen come from the powerful ‘Pawar’ community, which has dominated politics in Balaghat for the longest time. The other three dominating communities from the constituency are Lodhis, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Interestingly, the Congress has given ticket to Madhu Bhagat, who also belongs to the Pawar community. Bhagat fought the 2018 Assembly election from Paraswada constituency as Congress candidate but secured third position.

Also Read: Elections 2019: Are Tribal Votes Slipping from BJP in Madhya Pradesh?

While nomination papers filed by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Doman Singh Nagpure were rejected, former MLA and MP Kankar Munjare, who has been a constant factor in Balaghat elections in the last 25 years, is again in the fray as the SP-BSP joint candidate. Although Munjare is now a member of Samajwadi Party (SP), he is fighting on BSP’s election symbol.

There are 23 candidates at Balaghat now.

Balaghat, which has thrown up maverick but strong politicians in Madhya Pradesh politics consistently, comprises eight Assembly segments- six in Balaghat district and two in adjoining Seoni. The constituency has a 17.61 lakh strong electorate and three of its Assembly segments-Baiher, Lanji and Paraswada- are Naxalite-affected.

In the last Assembly elections in 2018, Congress won four seats, BJP two and one independent candidate won from the Assembly constituency, Waraseoni.

On April 12, which was the last day for withdrawal of nomination for candidates, BJP rebel candidate Bodh Singh didn’t withdraw his candidature despite attempts to placate him by the party leadership, thus raising concerns in the saffron camp.

Also Read: Elections 2019: BJP May Lose 11 Seats in Madhya Pradesh, Suggests Assembly Election Results Data

“This time, BJP voters are divided into two because of rebel candidate Bodh Singh Bhagat. Kankar Munjare, who belongs to the powerful Lodhi community has a strong hold and could cut massive votes,” said youth Congress leader Vishal Bisen.

“BJP’s internal fight will directly benefit the Congress, who has four seats in the region. Beside, CM Kamal Nath has held dozens of rallies in the tribal dominated areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Order on the Forest Rights Act 2009 has left a devastating impact on BJP's tribal vote bank and they may turn their back to the saffron party, said a local journalist Narendra Jain.

“Munjare as a candidate supported by SP and BSP, both of whom had polled considerable number of votes in the last election, could prove to be a game changer,” he added.

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