BJP Is Confident In Sandhya Ray From Bhind-Datia Lok Sabha Constituency (Facebook image@Sandhya Ray)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is once again fielding Sandhya Ray, the current MP from Bhind-Datia Lok Sabha constituency. The party expressed its confidence in its state vice president, though there were other big names aiming for the Lok Sabha ticket from Bhind, including former minister Lal Singh Arya.

In 2019, Ray defeated Indian National Congress’ Devashish Jararia over a margin of 1,99,865 votes. The Bhind Datia Lok Sabha constituency has been a stronghold of BJP since 1989. Before giving ticket to Ray in 2019, the last time BJP has given ticket to a woman from Bhind Datia Lok Sabha constituency  was in 1984.

For long years, BJP has not given ticket to Scheduled Caste candidates. That changed with Sandhya Ray in 2019. In 2024, BJP is once again fielding Ray hoping to retain its seat in the constituency. Reportedly, Sandhya Ray is the first candidate from the SC category to be fielded by BJP in Bhind Datia.

Talking to media, Ray said she was glad that she was chosen by the party for the second time. The Morena resident said her constituency is Dimani and never thought she would receive ticket from Bhind-Datia Lok Sabha constituency. She said in 2019, when she received the news about party giving ticket to her, she was at home, and a senior party official called her to inform that she was selected to contest.

She said she could not believe at first and had to confirm it with Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and other senior officials. This time however, there were no calls from officials. She got the information from a common party worker. She said she is fortunate that senior leadership of the party give her new responsibilities.