Chouhan meets Vajpayee and BJP leaders to discuss MP nominees

New Delhi, Oct 4 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met top BJP leaders at the residence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ahead of the selection of party nominees for Vidisha Lok Sabha and Bada Malhera Assembly constituency.

The meeting lasting over one-and-a-half-hour was attended by Leader of Opposition L K Advani BJP President Rajnath Singh is understood to have been discussed the candidates to be fielded for the October 30 byelections. The sudden summons for Mr Singh does not auger well for Mr Chouhan who is inclined to get the nomination for his wife while the party elders are in favour of launching Varun Gandhi or senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.

The party is worried about the possibility of facing former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janshakti Party leader Uma Bharti and wants to retain the seat at all costs. Vacancy in Vidisha is caused by the quitting of the seat by Mr Chouhan while Ms Bharti had quit her Bada Malhera seat. The BJP is fairly certain that Ms Bharti is contesting from Vidisha although she has not made the announcement so far.

Sources said the meeting was convened to send in the message to everybody concerned that none could take things for granted till the party finalises its decision on October six.

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