Congress replaces 4 candidates in MP ahead of crucial Assembly polls

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) With less than a month left for the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Congress on Wednesday replaced four of its candidates.

Congress General secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said, "Ajab Singh Kushwaha has replaced Kuldeep Sikarwar from Sumawali Assembly seat, while Virendra Belvanshi will contest in place of Guru Charan Khare from Pipariya (SC) Assembly seat."

According to sources, the Congress has replaced Sikarwar sensing the sentiments of the local people.

Venugopal also said that Murli Morwal has been fielded in place of Rajendra Singh Solanki from Badnagar Assembly seat and Virender Singh Solanki will replace Himmat Shrimal from Jaora Assembly seat.

The decision to replace these candidates was taken in view of the resentments of local people and caste education in all four Assembly seats.

The Congress has released the list of all 230 candidates for November 17 elections in the state.

Counting of votes will take place on December 3.

The Congress has fielded state unit chief Kamal Nath and senior party leader Digvijaya Singh's son Jaivardhan Singh from Raghogarh.

Budhni seat will witness a fight between Congress's actor Vikram Mastal, who played Lord Hanuman's role in Anand Sagar's 2008 TV show Ramayana, and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Sanjay Shukla from the grand-old party will be contesting the election against BJP's national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya from Indore 1.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Govind Singh has been fielded from Lahar Assembly seat and former LoP Ajay Singh (Rahul) from Churhat in Sidhi district.

The Congress has pitted Avdhes Nayak against the state home minister Narottam Mishra from Datia seat.

It has fielded senior party leader Ramkishor Dange against state agriculture minister Kamal Patel from Dhar Assembly constituency.

While former minister Jitu Patwari has been given ticket from Rau seat of Indore district, ex-Union minister Kantilal Bhuria's son Vikrant Bhuria will be contesting from Jhabua seat.

Sources also said that the Congress is likely to replace its candidate from the Amla Assembly seat of Betul district. Deputy Collector Nisha Bangre, who has resigned from the post, is likely to be fielded.