High-Stakes Bypolls in Madhya Pradesh: A Political Showdown

Bypolls are underway in Budhni and Vijaypur assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. Voting began smoothly at 7 am, as the elections were required due to incumbent legislators joining the BJP or moving to a higher political office. The bypolls feature a competitive lineup including ministers and tribal leaders.

Voters in Madhya Pradesh are casting their ballots for bypolls in the Budhni and Vijaypur assembly seats. The elections commenced peacefully at 7 am, according to Madhya Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer, Sukhveer Singh.

The Vijaypur bypoll was triggered after sitting Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat switched allegiance to the BJP and was appointed as a minister. In Budhni, the vacancy arose when former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was elected to the Lok Sabha.

The BJP has nominated Ramakant Bhargava, a loyalist of former Union Agriculture Minister Chouhan, to contest against Congress' former state minister Rajkumar Patel in Budhni. Meanwhile, in Vijaypur, the state's forest minister Ramniwas Rawat faces off against Congress' Mukesh Malhotra, a prominent tribal leader.

(With inputs from agencies.)