Madhya Pradesh Elections: Kukshi 'kursi' - a musical chair for Congress, JAYS

Kukshi, an Assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, is drawing political attention as the Congress and the tribal outfit Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) are eyeing to contest from the same seat amid alliance talks ahead of the Assembly elections in the state on November 28.

JAYS want to field a candidate from this western MP seat, Kukshi, which is currently held by the Congress' Surendra Singh Baghel. However, the Congress is reluctant to give up since the constituency has been its traditional stronghold. Hence, the alliance talks is now in limbo. 

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"Our seat-sharing talks with the Congress are underway. We want to contest the upcoming election from 40
assembly constituencies. Fighting from Kukshi due to our strong presence there is top on our agenda," JAYS convener Hiralal Alawa told PTI.

The fate of the two parties alliance depends on this seat, another JAYS leader said.

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"We have categorically told the Congress that we want to contest from Kukshi. The fate of alliance depends on this seat. If the Congress is adamant for this seat, then the alliance talks might even fail... We have already demonstrated our strength in Kukshi by organising Kisan Panchayat programme held on October 2. Over one lakh tribal youths had taken part in the event," he told PTI.

Baghel, who is holding the seat is a supporter of senior party leader Digvijay Singh. Baghel said he would contest the elections from Kukshi and also expressed confidence that he would win it with a huge margin.

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Kukshi is their traditional seat and the party cannot let it go easily, another Congress leader said.

The JAYS has a strong presence in 22 tribal seats - Alirajpur, Ratlam, Jhabua, Dhar, Khargone, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Dewas and Barwani districts in Malwa-Nimar region of western MP, which has a sizable tribal population. Of the 22 constituencies reserved for tribals, the Congress now holds five seats.

The Congress is keen on joining hands with the JAYS in Malwa-Nimar region that holds 66 assembly seats. The Congress has only nine MLAs as against the ruling BJP's 56 legislators in the region.