Battle lines drawn for Pandhana by-poll

Khandwa, MP, Nov 26: Battle lines have been drawn between the ruling BJP, Congress, Bharatiya Jan Shakti and Gondwana Ganatantra Party for the assembly by-election to Pandhana constituency, where polling is scheduled to take place on December 4.

The constituency is witnessing a five-cornered contest with BJP nominee Devendra Verma pitted against Congress candidate Hiralal Silawat and BJS candidate Vasudev Atut.

Besides being recognised for creating electoral hattricks, the constituency has given three ministers to the state.

Pandhana has witnessed close contests between the Congress and the saffron brigade since 1962 when the former defeated the Bharatiya Jansangh.

Congress leader Devkaran Patel is known for creating first electoral hattrick by winning elections in 1952, 1957 and 1962.

In 1967, Bharatiya Jansangh's Phoolchand Verma snatched the seat by defeating Congress rival Saheblal.

Congress leader Devkaran Patel's son Sakharam Devkaran Patel made hattrick by winning election in 1972 on Bharatiya Jansangh ticket, in 1977 as Janta Party candidate and in 1980 as a BJP nominee. Mr Sakharam Patel became a cabinet minister in the Janta Party Government.

However, the decision to change party candidates by the Congress and the BJP in 1985 did not prove wise for the latter when the Congress nominee Hiralal Silawat beat BJP's Phoolchand Verma. Mr Silawat became parliamentary secretary in 1985 and a Minister of State in 1998.

In a dramatic turn of events, Congress fielded Mr Sakharam Patel as its candidate in 1990 and the BJP announced the candidature of school teacher Kishorilal Verma in a haste. Mr Verma not only emerged victorious but also went on to become Minister of State for School Education.

In 1993, Kishorilal Verma retained the seat by defeating Congress' Hiralal Silawat, who avenged his defeat in 1998 by defeating Mr Verma in a close contest.

Mr Verma turned the table on the Congress and snatched the seat from Mr Silawat in 2003. However, his death necessitated the by-poll and the BJP was trying to ride the wave of sympathy by fielding Mr Kishorilal's son Devendra Verma.

UNI