Byelection: Another feather in CM’s cap

BHOPAL: Amid allegations of roping in voters and misuse of official machinery, Garoth by-poll victory has added one more feather in Shivraj's cap. The single face who turned table on his rivals at the neck of time and engineered BJP's victory with a margin of 13,000 votes is Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
Party leaders believe that Shivraj Singh stayed in the constituency for three days in a row, campaigned in water-hit areas, assured growth and farmers' benefit and overturned Congress plank to regain its lost seat.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya termed the victory as unprecedented which could have never happened in the absence of Shivraj Singh. “It was chief minister Shivraj Singh who singly played the game and won it too,” claimed Vijayvargiya. Party leaders Nandkumar Singh Chauhan, Arvind Menon and entire team members from Indore organisation were also holding the citadel, he added.
Shivraj's acid test begun after the much hyped audio clip which claimed that he enticed the voters, specially his party workers, and offered them high position in exchange of votes surfaced on a social site. For three days, till polling, he was attacked by rival parties, specially Congress, who blamed him for baiting, trying to misuse government machinery. It was clear from the campaign that BJP was trying for a higher turnout of voters so that margin of votes could be maintained.
Fortunately, voters turned out in good numbers, though less than previous election. BJP state president said people loved Shivraj Singh. “He is a leader who is accepted by all and voters have shown their affection in the by-poll,” he said.
Party believed that this is a small victory but also justify that this would help Shivraj Singh specially when he has been attacked from various quarters on issues like Vypam scam. Congress has reasons to differ. Congress candidate from Garoth Sibhash Kumar Sojatia charge BJP with misusing power.