BHOJPUR (RAISEN DISTRICT), May 27: The Congress, had it tried enough, could have given the BJP a run for its money in this rural and backward constituency. Sunderlal Patwa, the BJP's winning candidate from here since 1985, recently deserted the seat for a Lok Sabha berth via Chhindwara, leaving Bhojpur more than a little disenchanted. But the Congress' infighting may have spoiled any hopes the party may have had of cashing in. There are four other candidates in the fray, but they hardly matter.

Patwa, the former State chief minister, does not have a brilliant record of nursing his constituencies, Bhojpur included. Says Preetam Singh of Sultanpur, pointing to a road in front of his grain shop: ``This town has supported Patwaji all these years. Look at the condition of this road...The Chief Minister did not care for his constituency.''

Patwa's decision to switch to Chhindwara has hurt even more. The voters of Hinotra, a small village near Chiklod, had overwhelmingly supported Patwa in the last 1993 Assembly election from here. When the former chief minister returned two days ago, canvassing for his party's new candidate from here, Ram Kishan Chavan, Patwa had a rude surprise waiting.

The villagers asked him bluntly why he had come now after giving up the constituency. So did Brijlal Meena, a resident and a member of the local panchayat, who told The Indian Express today that he had been finding it difficult to explain to the people why Patwa had changed his constituency.

The BJP leader's apology and the lame explanation that Chavan was like his son failed to convince many, said Meena.

The Congress' performance has been equally disappointing. The party candidate, Bhupati Singh, is a local and enjoys a good reputation. But there is no organisation to back him whatsoever, with the Congress riddled with factions at the constituency level.

A day-long tour of the seat reveals the rift. There are murmurs that Arjun Singh's supporters are not helping Bhupati as they believe he did not help their leader's son, Ajay Singh Rahul, in the 1993 elections. The faction owing loyalty to former Union minister of state Suresh Pachauri is also said to be staying away.

No Congress leader, except Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, has come to canvass for Bhupati so far. This includes even Pachauri, who belongs to Raisen district. In contrast, the BJP's Lok Sabha member from the area, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, has been continuously touring the constituency. Patwa has visited twice.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.