Sidhi's backwardness comes up for debate

Sidhi (MP), Mar 5: Backwardness of the tribal-dominated Sidhi district in north-eastern Madhya Pradesh is again being debated by the Congress and BJP- the main stakeholders in the March 8 Lok Sabha byelection in Sidhi.

The seat fell vacant as the incumbent member Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP) was disqualified after being caught in the cash-for-query scam.

Though a total of 13 candidates are in the fray, the main contest is between BJP's Kunwar Singh and Congress party's Manik Singh.

Gondwana Gantantra Party President Hirasingh Markam's candidature is also to be reckoned with as also that of Mr Patiraj Singh of Samajwadi Party and Bahuajan Samaj Party leader Anante Singh.

Union Minister Arjun Singh's hold over this rural constituency is at stake as Sidhi is his home district and his son Ajay Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh Minister, is the election in charge for the Congress. Mr Arjun Singh could not campaign in the bypoll on health grounds, party sources said.

The ruling BJP is leaving no stone unturned to retain the seat and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is personally monitoring the campaign. Mr Chouhan was already addressed about 50 election meetings in five days and is planning another 25 in the final round of campaigning.

BJP President Rajnath Singh also addressed three meetings in the constituency, bordering Uttar Pradesh, while about a dozen state ministers are also camping in the district.

With electioneering at its peak, the main contenders BJP and Congress blame each other for the backwardness of the region. Mr C P Singh's involvement in corruption is also being highlighted by the Congress.

On the other hand, the BJP is highlighting the development works carried out in the past three years while holding the Congress responsible for the region and state's backwardness despite ruling for 50 years.

Though initially formed as a general seat in 1962, it was reserved for scheduled tribe in 1980. With delimitation work in progress, an exercise is underway to convert it into a general seat again.

In the past 11 elections held in Sidhi so far, Congress won it five times, BJP 3, BLD, Congress(Tiwari) and Independent one each.

In the 2004 election, Mr C P Singh bagged the seat defeating Mr Tilakraj Singh of Congress.

UNI