Bhopal: The decision by Congress to field ex-PCC president Arun Yadav against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the latter’s home turf of Budhni in the November 28 assembly elections has taken the ruling BJP by surprise.

Although a spokesman of Congress described the move a tactical one to not only give the chief minister a run for his money, but also tie him in his assembly constituency of Budhni in the coming polls, BJP said Mr Yadav was made a sacrificial goat by his party. Reacting to the development, the chief minister sympathised with Mr Yadav for being “subjected to injustice by the Congress.”

“Congress did injustice to my friend Arun (Yadav) first by removing him from the post of MP Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president three months ago. He was subjected to injustice for the second time when he was fielded against me by Congress,” the chief minister quipped.

BJP spokesman here Rajnish Agrawal said Mr Yadav fell victim to factionalism in the Congress.