MP Bypolls: Kamal Nath pits Sachin Pilot against Jyotiraditya Scindia in Gwalior region

Ahead of Madhya Pradesh bypolls, former MP CM Kamal Nath annced that Congress leader Sachin Pilot will be one of star campaigners for a road show in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior region against BJP's Jyotiraditiya Scindia. This comes soon after Pilot revolted against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. Confirming Congress leader's inclusion, Congress state media vice-president Bhipendra Gupta said, "Yes, Sachin Pilot has been called and, like or star campaigners, he would be campaigning for party."

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Pilot roped-in at behest of Kamal Nath

Gupta said Pilot will lead campaign in Gwalior at behest of Kamal Nath. Earlier, Pilot's revolt against Ashok Gehlot indicated that he may be joining BJP. But, Congress was finally able to resolve conflicts and Sachin Pilot remained in party. 

Jyotiraditya Scindia joins BJP 

upcoming bypolls will be held in 28 assembly segments in Madhya Pradesh out of which 16 lie in Gwalior-Chambal region, a stronghold of Scindia. majority of se 16 assembly seats are very close to Rajasthan border and members of Pilot's Gujjar community reside in region. After Scindia left Congress to join BJP, 22 of  total 28 seats were vacated which were occupied by Scindia's loyalists.

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This move bought down Kamal Nath's government in vember 2019. Three more seats were vacated by Congress MLAs who switched to BJP after Shivraj Singh Chouhan took over as Chief Minister. remaining three seats fell vacant after deaths of sitting MLAs, two belonging from Congress and one from BJP. 

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