MP polls: BJP releases 2nd list of 39 candidates; fields 3 Union Ministers

Bhopal, Sep 25 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released the second list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. The party has fielded three Union Ministers and seven MPs.

As per the list, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Singh Patel from Dimani and Narsingpur, respectively, while Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste will contest from Niwas constituency. 

The second list of 39 candidates also includes the name of BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya from Indore-1 seat. 

The list comprises six women, 10 candidates from Scheduled Tribes and four nominees from the Scheduled Castes category. 

Two-time MP from Sidhi -- Riti Pathak has been fielded from the same constituency, while Jabalpur MP Rakesh Singh will also contest the assembly election. 

Sitting MLA Kedarnath Shukla, whose aide Pravesh Shukla urinated on a tribal man, Dashmat Rawat, has been replaced with Riti Pathak. 

The saffron party has fielded Vishwamitra Pathak from Sihawal seat of Sidhi district, which is being represented by former minister Kamleshwar Patel. 

The party has also fielded Satna MP Rakesh Singh. 

Union Minister Jyotiradiya Scindia-loyalist Imarti Dev, who had lost the by-polls in 2021, has been given another chance from Dabra seat in Datia district. 

The saffron party had released the first list of candidates in August. 

In Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP is in power, ground reports and surveys have indicated a "tough contest" between the saffron party and the Congress. 

The second list was released hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a massive gathering of BJP workers in Bhopal on Monday.