Rebels pose threat to official candidates

A large number of rebel candidates from major political parties are in the fray for the Dec 1 assembly elections causing concern to official nominees of both the Congress and the BJP.

Unfazed by threat of expulsion, a large number of rebel candidates from major political parties are in the fray for the December one assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh causing concern to official nominees of both the Congress and the BJP.

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Though some rebels pulled out of the race after cut- throat fight during ticket distribution following stern warnings by party bosses, many are still in the race either as independents or nominees of smaller parties.

After withdrawal of nomination papers, both Congress and BJP would have to face the presence of more than 150 rebel candidates who are expected to eat into a sizeable chunk of their respective vote banks damaging the prospects of their nominees.

While the revolt phenomenon is widespread, it is more visible in areas like Vindhya Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Chambal perhaps due to considerable influence of parties including Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party who have fielded Congress and BJP rebels.

For the Congress, rebel menace is more pronounced in seats including Churahat where party veteran Arjun Singh's son and rural development minister Ajay Singh is in the fray.

Similarly, cooperative minister Govind Singh is facing rebel Congress aspirant Rama Shankar Singh, who has been nominated by BSP, in Lahar constituency, while former minister Yadvendra Singh is in the fray as a Samajwadi Party nominee to make the going tough for the Congress candidate in the Tikamgarh constituency.