Morena: Congress Fields Ex-BJP Member Satyapal Singh Sikarwar From BJP Citadel (image-Facebook/Satyapal Singh Sikarwar 'Neetu')

Congress has nominated a former BJP member and former MLA from Sumawali, Satyapal Singh Sikarwar, aka Neetu, in the BJP”s citadel, Morena, in Madhya Pradesh. Sikarwar’s father and former MLA, Gajraj Singh Sikarwar, wields significant influence in Morena and Gwalior districts. His brother Satish Singh Sikarwar, also a former BJP member who joined Congress, is the grand old party’s candidate from the Gwalior East assembly seat.

The ruling BJP has chosen to field a new candidate this time, substituting incumbent Narendra Singh Tomar, now a member of the state assembly, for Shivmangal Singh Tomar. This is the third time the party has dropped its sitting MP for a new candidate.

Until 1991, there was a constant power shift, with the Lok Sabha seat oscillating between Congress and Janata Dal. Since 1991, the seat has become a stronghold of the BJP, with the party having consistently won seven Lok Sabha elections.

Two days before the 2020 assembly by polls, Sikarwar was expelled from the saffron party for ‘gross indiscipline’ and allegedly engaging in anti-party activities. A letter issued by the BJP to Neetu read, “You are constantly involved in anti-party activities against the party’s official candidates during the assembly bypoll and have been warned against the leadership against it.”

Following his expulsion, Sikarwar’s supporters burned effigies of BJP leaders in protest.

Sikarwar was elected as the MLA from the Sumawali assembly seat in 2013 on a BJP ticket. In 2003, his father, too, had won the same seat.

The Morena Lok Sabha constituency comprises eight Vidhan Sabhas, including Shoepur, Vijaypur, Sabalgarh, Joura, Sumawali, Morena, Dimani, and Ambah (SC). As per the 2011 census, there is an SC population of 20.1 percent, ST 6.4 percent, and Muslim 2.8 percent.