BJP will include 50,000 Congress workers, its aim is to snatch the stronghold of Kamal Nath

Before handing over the reins to his son Nakul Nath, Kamal Nath retained Chhindwara seat 9 times

Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh:

BJP, which has continuously failed to win Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, the stronghold of veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh, is making every possible effort to achieve it this time and has set a target of involving 50,000 workers from the rival party. Conduct elections as part of his ambitious plan.

Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat was held by Kamal Nath nine times and it is still with the family as his son Nakul Nath is currently the MP from there. Recently there was speculation that the senior Nath might join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his son. However, the 77-year-old leader, who was the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for 15 months till March 2020, rejected the discussion.

Chhindwara has always been a stronghold of Congress. Since 1952, the party has lost this Lok Sabha seat only once in the 1997 by-election. During the 2019 general elections, the BJP won 28 out of 29 seats in MP, but failed to win Chhindwara.

According to BJP leaders, the party wants to achieve its ambitious plan to include around 50,000 Congress leaders and workers in its fold in Chhindwara before the Lok Sabha elections likely to be held in April-May. The saffron party said that 50 Congress workers joined its side in Chhindwara on Wednesday.

Speaking in Gwalior and Khajuraho last Sunday, Home Minister and BJP’s chief strategist Amit Shah asked booth workers to work to ensure the party’s victory on all 29 Lok Sabha seats in MP.

BJP Chhindwara district unit president Bunty Sahu told PTI on Thursday, “Since February 1, a total of 5,000 Congress leaders and workers have joined the BJP as they boycotted the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony last month.” Was unhappy with his party’s decision.

“We have set a target of inducting 50,000 Congress workers before the elections and eliminating our rival party…people who are unhappy with the Congress are joining our party,” he said.

“This time, we are going to win with a huge margin,” he said, adding that his party is reaching out to voters in every corner of Chhindwara ahead of the elections to woo them.

According to a senior leader, the state BJP leadership has asked its Chhindwara unit to woo and include 50,000 Congress members who are dissatisfied with their party.

The BJP claimed that 1,500 Congress leaders joined them on 21 February. Former MP Congress general secretary and liquor businessman Ujjwal Singh Thakur alias Ajju also joined the ruling party. While welcoming him at that time, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had cryptically said that many people were feeling uneasy and he would eventually join the saffron party in the coming days.

However, Congress district president Vishwanath Okte told PTI that his rival party was making false claims about his party leaders and workers joining them.

According to him, only about 24 Congress leaders have joined BJP since February 1.

He alleged, “Opportunists are leaving Congress and joining BJP. No true Congress soldier has joined BJP here. Only selfish people and people who earn money through wrong means are joining BJP.”

Sensing the BJP’s game plan, Kamal Nath on Wednesday launched his public relations program to garner support for his son Nakul, who in all likelihood will be the Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha from here.

As part of his 5-day tour, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath is scheduled to visit all the 11 revenue blocks of Chhindwara to garner support for his son.

On Wednesday, Kamal Nath told party workers that he would not “impose” himself on them and would “leave” if they wanted.

Addressing a meeting of party workers at Harrai in Chhindwara, his home constituency, he said that he has been receiving their love and trust for many years.

“If you want to bid farewell to Kamal Nath, it is your choice. I am ready to go. I do not want to impose myself. It is a matter of your choice,” the former MP chief minister told the gathering.

The senior Nath had already announced that Nakul would contest again from this seat.

A BJP leader said, “In the 2019 elections, we lost the Chhindwara seat by just 34,953 votes. In 2014, we lost it by 1,16,537 votes. Figures show that we have reduced the margin of defeat significantly.”

A BJP functionary said, “Though we lost all the seven assembly seats in Chhindwara last year, our vote percentage has increased significantly. We are becoming stronger day by day and are determined to win in Chhindwara.” Are ready.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)