Power outages emerge as core issue in battle for Budhni

Budhni, MP, Apr 30 (UNI) Power crisis in scorching summer is a burning issue in the coming bypoll for Budhni assembly constituency on May 3 where the BJP nominee happens to be none other than Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

With the Election Commission (EC) cracking the whip for strict implementation of the model code of conduct, Mr Chouhan confronts the double whammy of byelection postponement and outages in the region.

Power cuts comprise the key poll issue while other development matters have taken a backseat.

The Congress and other opposition parties complained to the EC against the BJP candidate regarding ''uninterrupted power supply'' and other irregularities.

The collector and superintendent of police were consequently ''axed''.

According to residents, the earlier the byelection was held the better it was for Budhni. Bagvada-based Lakshmichand Malviya told this correspondent that he was a die-hard Congress loyalist. It will be the first time that voters here will exercise their franchise for electing not a party but a chief minister.

''The constituency is beset with problems. These days, when the mercury is hovering around 45 degrees Celsius in the day, power outages have become the most relevant issue,'' he said.

Responses of residents in Shahganj, Ramnagar, Bandra Bhan, Jahanpur and Jawaharkheda villages are similar.

Campaigning has lost its charm due to absence of flags, banners, posters and vehicle convoys, while the electorate denounced every political party, including the BJP, and the EC for the poll postponement from April 24.

Residents say they would not have faced the power crisis this summer had the bypoll been held on time.

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