Shivraj Singh Chouhan goes all out for February 24 bypolls

New Delhi: After the drubbing in the civic polls, Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Mr Shivraj Singh Chauhan has pressed in all his resources for the upcoming by-elections in the  Mungaoli and Kolaras constituencies in the state to be held on February 24. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hoping to woo voters thanks to the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana.

Under the price deficiency payment scheme announced for eight kharif crops last year and extended to four rabi crops on Tuesday, the government does not procure the produce from farmers but pays the difference if the produce gets sold below the minimum support price. According to state government officials, more than `880 crore has been disbursed to 6.35 lakh farmers under the scheme.

The faction-ridden Congress has also put up a united face when party candidates filed their nomination papers. The Congress and the BJP have already started campaigning for the bypolls. While the Congress is aiming to retain both seats, the saffron party is trying hard to wrest them.

Both the assembly segments fall under Guna Lok Sabha constituency, the pocket-borough of Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia. A Congress victory would not only send home the message that the party is in the game for November 2018, it would also strengthen Mr. Scindia’s claim over the top job in Madhya Pradesh.

Senior leaders like Mr. Scindia, Mr Kamal Nath  and Mr Suresh Pachouri, represent various factions in the state party unit. Supporters of all the factions have been campaigning for the Congress candidates.