BJP's Plan In Kamal Nath Bastion: Monika Batti, Nathan Shah To Contest Two ST Reserved Seats In Chhindwara

A day after unveiling the second list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced the name of an additional candidate, bringing the total count to 79.

The latest candidate, Monika Batti, is the daughter of the late Manmohan Shah Batti, former president of the Akhil Bhartiya Gondwana Party (ABGP). Monika recently joined the BJP and was herself the president of ABGP.

Monika is set to contest from the Amarawada (ST) constituency in Chhindwara district, which happens to be the home district of Congress veteran Kamal Nath.

Notably, the BJP's choice of candidate for another ST reserved seat falling in the Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency is interesting as well.

BJP has chosen Nathan Shah for Junnardeo (ST) seat. Interestingly, Shah contested against Kamal Nath's son Nakul Nath in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and lost by just around 37,500 votes to him.

Manmohan Shah Batti received around 36,000 votes and if a complete vote transfer happens from ABGP to BJP, the party has a very good chance as in 2019 too, the BJP was ahead in four of the seven assembly segments of the Chhindwara seat.