Rebels make it tough for both BJP, Cong in Jobat

Indore: The fight will be between Sena Patel of Congress and Vishal Rawat of BJP in Alirajpur district’s Jobat assembly constituency.While Congress has managed to secure the seat 10 times of the 15 elections since independence, BJP only managed to win twice in 2003 and 2013 when Madho Singh contested the polls and once in 2021 bypolls when Sulochana Rawat of Congress joined BJP and managed to bag the seat.While Rawat is now in a critical condition, her son Vishal was given a ticket from the seat and will contest against Sena Patel of Congress.Both the parties are focusing on unemployment, electricity and water woes in the constituency.“The major issue in this constituency is unemployment. The youths are migrating to different states in search of jobs and we want to address their issues. Similarly, roads, electricity and water woes are some other issue on which we are focusing. Tribals are not given the due respect in the state and I will make sure that incidents like Sidhi and Nemawar don’t happen in my constituency,” said Sena Patel of Congress.Vishal Rawat said, “There are no major issues in the constituency but we are focusing on overall development of the residents here. The reaction is very positive and they are very happy with the schemes of BJP.”Reacting to this, Congress candidate Patel said, “We are on field and speaking to the people. They say BJP did not think about us for 18 years and suddenly they are remembering Ladli Behna. I am sure I will win with huge margin. Rebellion will also not affect us as people want to vote for the party and not a face.”Jobat is the only seat with the highest number of contenders. Here, both Congress and BJP will see rebellion as senior leaders are contesting as independents.A day before the last day to withdraw nominations, none of the senior leaders were able to convince senior BJP leader Madho Singh Dawar to withdraw his nominations. Party leaders kept calling him and visited his home but he did not meet anyone and switched off his phone. Dawar who was earlier in Congress had contested as an independent in 1998 after the ticket was handed to Sulochana Rawat who was earlier in Congress. He will now contest as an independent against Sulochna’s son Vishal from BJP.Congress will also have a tough fight on Jobat seat as Ajnar Surpal Singh will contest as an independent. Singh was expelled from Congress for six years for rebelling against the party and contesting as an independent. Rinku Bala Dawar, former member of jila panchayat will also contest as an independent from the seat.On Wednesday, Alirajpur BJP district president Santosh Parwal expelled eight workers from the party for six years. He said on instructions of state president VD Sharma, former district president Vakil Singh Thakrala and jila panchayat vice president Surekha Vakil Singh were expelled from the party in Alirajpur for working against party. Similarly, in Jobat assembly constituency, Azad Nagar panchayat president Nirmala Dabar and former district president Rakesh Agarwal and a few others were also expelled for six years.