MP polls: Women nominees pitched against each other on Bhikangaon seat

Barwah(MP), Nov 10: The tribal Bhikangaon seat in

's Khargone district is expected to send a woman MLA to the state Assembly after the November 25 polls for the first time as both the

and

have fielded women candidates from the reserve ST constituency.

Though women candidates have tried their luck from the seat earlier, voters rejected them and this time they don't have much option as BJP has fielded it's district vice president and janpad member - Nanda Brahmane - against Congress' Jhooma Solanki, who is also the party unit's Khargone district president and janpad member, sources said today.

BJP's Nanda Brahmane will face Congress's Jhooma Solanki in Bhikangaon seat.

While BJP has fielded a woman candidate for the first time from the seat, Congress had given ticket to a female candidate Sangeeta Sildar in 2008 also but she lost the polls.

BJP vice president Uma Bharti's Janshakti Party had also fielded a woman candidate Tulsi Gole in 2008, but she too was rejected by the voters.

In 1980, Janata Party's (Secular) Punnibai and in 2003 Independent Lakshmi Romade too got defeated in the elections.

But, voters this time have no option as both the BJP and Congress have fielded women candidates from the tribal seat, sources said. Notably, Bhikangaon has a history of electing either Congress or a BJP candidate.

PTI