CHHINDWARA, February 2: The Chhindwara constituency of Madhya Pradesh is all set to witness a keen contest between the Congress and BJP in the Lok Sabha election on February 22.The contest has attracted attention because the Congress nominee here is former Union minister Kamal Nath while the BJP candidate is former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Sunderlal Patwa.
Chhindwara had been known as a Congress stronghold as the party had won all Lok Sabha elections here from 1952 to 1996.
Chhindwara happens to be the only constituency in the state that the Congress won in the 1977 elections after the emergency, losing the rest to the Janata party.
But its image as an impregnable Congress fortress was received a body blow by Patwa in February last when he humbled Kamal Nath in a by-election caused by the resignation of the latter's wife Alka Nath, who had won in may 1996.
As far as Kamal Nath is concerned, he is going all out to avenge his defeat in the constituency which he had represented without any breakfrom 1980 to may 1996.
On the other hand, winning again in Chhindwara has become a challenge for Patwa as he has to prove that his victory February last was not a flash in the pan.
Kamal Nath himself admits that he had lost in the bypoll February last due to his overconfidence that made him take the electorate for granted. Now, chastened by his defeat, the senior Congress leader is taking no chances.
Kamal Nath had been denied a Congress ticket for the May 1996 Lok Sabha elections by the party high command on the ground that he was allegedly involved in the hawala case.
His wife Alka Nath was the Congress nominee in May 1996 and she won from there by defeating Chaudhary Chandra Bhan Singh of the BJP by a margin of around 20,000 votes.
The senior Congress leader is presently working hard and spends most of his time personally contacting voters in this sprawling constituency.
In the February 1997 by-elections, Patwa enjoyed a distinct advantage over Kamal Nath because a large number of BJP workersfrom all over the state had campaigned from him.
This mobilisation of workers is not possible now as Lok Sabha elections are being held all over the country and this may work to Kamal Nath's benefit. So far, the only leader of stature to have campaigned for Patwa is former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who spent about five hours in the constituency.
Though Vajpayee is unlikely to visit Chhindwara again, plans are being drawn for BJP president L K Advani, party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj and other leaders.
In the February bypolls last year, those who had campaigned for Kamal Nath included senior Congress leader Arjun Singh and Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.
For this election, though Singh and Madhavrao Scindia might spare some time for Chhindwara, Abdullah's visit is doubtful as he has now tied up with the United Front.
Just before Vajpayee addressed an election meeting, a police firing took place on agitating farmers at Multai in neighbouring Betul district and Patwa launcheda three-day fast in protest against it.
Patwa is arriving here today by road from Bhopal and is expected to stay here till the polling date.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
