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Shivraj does not want party bigwigs in Budhni

CHIEF MINISTER Shivraj Singh Chouhan considers the Budhni by-election too small for the party?s Central leaders to campaign in the constituency and, therefore, does not want any of them to come here. However, Sushma Swaraj would be visiting the constituency in the last leg of electioneering to strengthen the party?s position.

Published on: Apr 14, 2006, 13:04:00 IST
None | By , Budhni
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CHIEF MINISTER Shivraj Singh Chouhan considers the Budhni by-election too small for the party’s Central leaders to campaign in the constituency and, therefore, does not want any of them to come here. However, Sushma Swaraj would be visiting the constituency in the last leg of electioneering to strengthen the party’s position.

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HT Image

Chouhan told the Hindustan Times he is averse to central leaders coming here not because of arrogance or overconfidence. Anyway, given the elections in five states, the BJP is not in a position to spare many senior central leaders for canvassing in Budhni.

However, State leaders like BJP State unit president Satyanarayan Jatia, Member of Parliament Vikram Verma and certain others would soon visit the constituency. Party sources said since the by-election is a foregone conclusion, Chouhan might be trying to give the message that he alone can ensure a comfortable win.

Incidentally, Sushma Swaraj was here for a day recently but did not campaign in Budhni. She visited Gularpura in Budhni constituency only to attend a religious programme.

However, the sources said, the party cannot afford to be overconfident or complacent. For, not only the CM, the party’s prestige is also at stake in the election.

The party leaders’ are aiming at record victory margin. That’s why about 12 to 15 ministers are contributing their bit to electioneering and State unit secretary Arvind Bhadauria is camping in the constituency to co-ordinate among workers.

60 sensitive polling booths
OUT OF 189 polling booths in the Budhni assembly constituency, 60 have been identified as sensitive under Sehore district. A total of 18 sector magistrates would be deputed in 36 zones, informed District Returning Officer SK Mishra at a press conference held here today.

The constituency includes Budhni and Nasrullahganj tehsils of Sehore and Babai tehsil of Hoshangabad district. In Sehore 1,74,709 voters, including 82455 women, would cast votes on April 24. Counting will be done here at the RAK Agriculture College on April 27.

  • Ranjan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Ranjan

    Ranjan Srivastava leads HT’s coverage from Bhopal. He has spent more than two decades in journalism in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, covering political and other affairs. For the past 16 years, he has been working in Madhya Pradesh.Read More

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