Congress names 15 candidates to face Scindia loyalists in Madhya Pradesh bypolls

Preparing to face Jyotiraditya Scindia's loyalists, Congress on Friday, released list of 15 candidates selected for by-elections which will soon be held in Madhya Pradesh. Of 27 vacant seats, EC will hold by-elections 24 seats by Septemeber 2020. Congress has released candidates for 11 SC-reserved seats and 4 general seats including Scindia's bastion Gwalior - fielding Sunil Sharma. 

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Congress releases bypoll candidate list

Scindia lashes out at Kamal Nath's 15-month MP tenure; claims 'He put govt under lockdown'

BJP backs Scindia loyalists

Earlier in day, reports claimed that BJP general secretary B L Santhosh has instructed BJP workers to ensure that all BJP candidates including Scindia loyalists win from ir respective seats, or face action. This command comes inspite of senior MLA Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat claiming that BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayawargiya, who has been made election in-charge for 5 seats where Scindia's loyalists are contesting, will ensure ir defeat. BJP has incessantly campaigned in by-poll constituencies with Scindia addressing several rallies, lashing out at 15-month Kamal Nath government.

Scindia anunces '5000 Congress netas joining BJP'; says 'I am t greedy for any post'

 Madhya Pradesh crisis & bypolls

crisis in Kamal Nath government started when Congress alleged BJP of poaching 4 MLAs - two of which returned to Kamal Nath's folds. Soon, 22 MLAs including 6 cabinet ministers - loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia - quit party, reducing Congress to a mirity government with 92 MLAs. Following this, Scindia resigned from Congress and n joined BJP. After Nath stepped down as CM and Madhya Pradesh Speaker accepted all 22 MLAs' resignation, all of m promptly joined BJP. Three more Congress MLAs have joined BJP since n - vacating 27 seats in Assembly.

BJP MLA warns of loss in MP bypolls, says 'Vijayawargiya wants revenge from Scindia'

Scindia's rebellion paid off with 12 rebel MLAs being given cabinet portfolios in July's cabinet expansion. Apart from se 12, two rebel MLAs -Tulsi Silawat and Govind Singh Rajput had already been sworn in shortly after CM Shivraj Chouhan took oath, while Scindia himself has been elected to Rajya Sabha. In upcoming bypolls, all 14 ministers shall be in poll fray. To remain in power with a majority on its own, BJP requires to win 9 seats in upcoming bypolls. However, BJP faces danger in MP even if it wins only three seats as y have support of two BSP, one SP, and three Independent legislators.