Maihar bypoll: BJP may field ex-Cong MLA Narayan Tripathi

BJP is likely to field former Congress MLA Narayan Tripathi, who joined the state's ruling party during 2014 Lok Sabha polls, for coming Maihar assembly by-election.
The bypoll is scheduled to take place on February 13.
"Although official announcement will be made by the party's election committee soon, we all are of the opinion that Tripathi should be BJP's candidate from Maihar as he has joined the party after resigning as a Congress legislator for strengthening BJP during last Lok Sabha elections," state BJP chief Nandkumar Singh Chouhan told reporters.
Replying to a query on why those who had defected from other parties would be given ticket instead of hardcore party workers, Chouhan said that "in order to spread its wings, BJP has to encompass all those who are capable in its fold."

The by-poll in Maihar will be held on February 13 while the counting of votes will take place on February 16.
Replying to Congress' allegations that whenever BJP comes to power in the state, there is a spurt in incidents of communal violence, he said "it is a Congress' ploy to defame BJP."

Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced former
MLA Ram Lakhan Singh Patel as the party's candidate for the Maihar by-poll.
"The announcement to field Patel from Maihar was made by BSP President, Mayawati," a party release said.
Samajwadi Party (SP) named Ram Niwas Urmalia as its nominee for the byelection, a party source said.

Although Congress is yet to make an announcement to this effect, it is likely to field Manish Patel. He had quit BSP to join Congress.
As BSP candidate, Patel had bagged over 40,000 votes in 2013 Maihar assembly polls but lost to Congress' Narayan Tripathi.
BJP had lured Tripathi into its fold just ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha poll.
The by-poll was necessitated as Tripathi had resigned from his seat to join BJP.