BSP candidate in Guna, Lokendra Singh Dhakad, switched loyalty to Congress in the middle of elections, only to face the wrath of Mayawati, who continued to campaign for the party in the constituency so as to spoil the prospects of Jyotiraditya Scindia.
According to The Indian Express, on 29 April, Dhakad joined the Congress, saying he was impressed by Scindia and wanted to work for him. He then started campaigning for Scindia. However, he was way past the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
Since the BSP could not officially field another candidate either, Mayawati announced that the party will contest on its symbol and asked party cadres to continue seeking votes for the party symbol.
Since Dhakad continued to be the official BSP candidate, the EVMs had his name and the party symbol. Dhakad eventually polled 37,530 votes while Scindia lost the seat by a margin of 1,25,549 votes.
Mayawati also threatened to reconsider her party’s support to the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, alleging that it misused official machinery to force its official nominee to withdraw, according to The Indian Express.
Expressing no regret, Dhakad told The Indian Express, “BSP has a missionary-type vote in every Assembly segment. Many of these voters live in such interior areas that they may not have heard about my decision to pull out. I supported Scindia but the BSP (voters) supported its symbol.”
“The BSP said it was wrong but I was helpless – my wavelength matched with Scindia’s,’’ he added, saying that the BSP did ask him to reconsider his decision.
(With inputs from The India Express)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)