BJP Fields Virendra Kumar Khatik From Tikamgarh Constituency For Fourth Consecutive Time (image@DrVirendrakum13)

Madhya Pradesh’s Tikamgarh Lok Sabha constituency will witness an amusing election this year. The Bharatiy Janata Party has given ticket to the 73-year-old Virendra Kumar Khatik from the constituency. Whereas, Congress gave ticket to 42-year-old Pankaj Ahirwar. This is the fourth consecutive time the party is fielding Khatik from Tikamgarh and the constituency has been under its tight grip for the past 20 years.

Khatik is BJP’s trusted candidate who is rich in experience. He was chosen as the Member of Parliament from Madhya Pradesh for seven consecutive times. Though, Tikamgarh’s vote bank is mainly the Ahirwar community, Congress could not win the seat by fielding Kiran Ahirwar, during the last election. The grant old party, tries its luck one more time by fielding Pankaj Ahirwar, but only time would tell whether youth could beat an experienced old man in the election arena.

Khatik currently serves as the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, he was made the minister during the second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when a cabinet overhaul happened.

During the 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th Lok Sabha elections that happened between 1996 and 2009, Khatik brought victory to BJP from Sagar constituency, where he was born and brought up. During the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th Lok Sabha election, Khatik won from Tikamgarh constituency, and is gearing up to bring another victory.

This year’s election appears to be a neck and neck contest as Congress is bend on regain the seat from BJP and the latter is confident that they still have a strong grip over Tikamgarh.