In the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Election of 2023, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has implemented a fresh approach in the Chachoda Assembly Seat, striving to combat the prevailing anti-incumbency wave. The party has strategically nominated Union Ministers and MPs for several constituencies while making alterations to existing candidates. Nevertheless, this decision has sparked discontent and rebellion in various regions, and one such seat that’s generating a lot of discussion is the Chachoda Assembly Seat.
Chachoda Assembly Seat and the MP Election 2023
This seat has historically been captured by the Congress nine times and the BJP three times. What adds to its historical significance is the fact that it played a crucial role in the ascension of veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh to the Chief Minister’s position. Currently, the seat is held by his brother, Laxman Singh. However, within the BJP, rebellion is becoming increasingly visible in this constituency, making Chachoda a focal point of political debates.
It’s noteworthy that Digvijay Singh became the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh through a by-election from the Chachoda Assembly seat. In 1994, the then Congress MLA Shivnarayan Meena resigned from this seat in favor of Digvijay Singh. For the Meena family, this seat holds a unique significance, as no member of the royal family has ever faced defeat here. Currently, Laxman Singh, the brother of a Congress Rajya Sabha MP, is the sitting MLA. Digvijay Singh has been actively campaigning in the area in recent days.
Inside BJP’s Strategy Shift in Madhya Pradesh Election 2023
Although the Congress has not officially declared a candidate for the Chachoda Assembly Seat, speculations suggest that they may once again place their trust in Laxman Singh. Shivnarayan Meena holds the distinction of being the only leader to have been elected as the MLA from the Chachoda seat four times, winning consecutively on Congress tickets in 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008.
This time, the BJP is determined to wrest the Chachoda seat from the Congress, which is why they’ve chosen to change their candidate. The party has offered the ticket to former MLA Mamta Meena, replacing Priyanka Meena. This decision has triggered rebellion within the party, as Mamta Meena, upset about not receiving the ticket, has now defected to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), creating a triangular contest for the seat.
Congress vs. BJP for Chachoda
Political experts believe that with Mamta Meena entering the race, Priyanka Meena’s votes may be split, potentially benefiting the Congress. Adding to the complexity of this race is Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who has been assigned the role of in-charge for the Chachoda Assembly, while he himself is contesting from Dimani this time. Whether Tomar can secure the Chachoda seat for the BJP remains to be seen.
The decisive factor on the Chachoda seat is the vote of the Meena community, which holds approximately 60,000 votes in the area. Additionally, there are around 50,000 votes from SC/ST communities, 20,000 from the Lodha community, 15,000 from the Gurjar community, 10,000 from the Mali community, and over 50,000 votes from other communities. In the 2018 assembly elections, Chachoda had a total of 2,03,378 voters, with 1,08,333 being male and 95,042 being female. The total votes cast were 1,64,544, resulting in Congress candidate Laxman Singh’s victory with an 81,908-vote margin, while BJP’s Mamta Meena faced defeat with a margin of 72,111 votes. The election outcome hinged on a mere 9,797 votes.
