If one goes by the huge reception BJP parliamentarians Ashok Argal and Faggan Singh Kulaste - two of the three MPs who brandished wads of notes in Parliament — have received from party workers in Madhya Pradesh, it’s difficult to believe that their party fared badly in the last week’s trust vote.

In their first visit to Madhya Pradesh since the UPA won the trust vote, they appeared to ride the crest of a sudden wave of popularity.

Unlike Chandrabhan Singh, who is now a persona non grata in Damoh, the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha, Argal and Kulaste returned to a hero’s welcome in their respective constituencies on Sunday. BJP workers had attacked Singh’s houses in Delhi, Jabalpur and Damoh, accusing him of abstaining from the vote for monetary benefits. Carrying party flags and garlands, BJP workers jostled to felicitate Argal amid beating of drums.

The Congress’ attempt to blacken the face of Argal when he arrived at Morena railway station backfired as the police used force and caned the activists.

Around a dozen Congress activists suffered minor injuries when they tried to force their way to the railway station, where BJP workers had gathered to felicitate Argal. Congress party’s Gwalior unit chief Prakash Khandelwal said the workers were not even allowed to wave black flags by the police.

Local SP Santosh Singh said the use of force was justified to keep the two groups away from each other. He said some policemen were also injured. A case has been registered against Congress workers under various sections of the IPC.

... contd.