Dr Bharti Pardhi: BJP's New Face To Muster Balaghat's Panwar Community Votes (image:facebook.com/BhartiPardhi4Balaghat)

In the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Dr. Bharti Pardhi is the BJP candidate to contest from Madhya Pradesh”s Balaghat constituency. Currently, she serves as councilor of Ward No. 22 of the Balaghat Municipal Council. For the polls, the party fielded a new face, replacing the incumbent BJP MP, Dhal Singh Bisen. The other possible BJP aspirants to the seat included sitting MP Dhal Singh Bisen, former minister Gaurishankar Bisen”s daughter Mausam Harinkhede Bisen, and BJP Yuva Morcha state president Vaibhav Singh Panwar.

Politics is not entirely an alien territory for Dr. Bharti Pardhi. She is married to a political family. Bharti Pardhi”s husband served as a District Panchayat member. Her father-in-law, Bholaram Pardhi, was a parliamentarian. Her political career began as a District Panchayat member in the years 1999–2000. Though she lost the post of District Panchayat President by one vote, the setback did not dampen her spirits. She then shifted gears from electoral politics to being active in organisational politics. Pardhi undertook diverse responsibilities, including serving as Vice President of the BJP organisation, General Secretary twice, and National and State Working Committee members of Mahila Morcha.

Balaghat Lok Sabha seat is the stronghold of the BJP, and the party has won the election six times. In the Balaghat-Seoni area, whether it be assembly or Lok Sabha polls, caste equations play a pertinent role. As per the reports, the BJP thinks the caste vote bank and equations in the constituency can be resolved by fielding a female candidate. The party hopes to muster Panwar community votes through Bharti Singh. The Panwar community in the area, which falls under the OBC category, plays a crucial role in influencing the election results. After the Panwar community, tribal and Lodhi voters claim a significant vote bank.