Madhya Pradesh: Congress goes for back-up candidate in Amarwara bypoll

BHOPAL: Congress candidate for the July 10 Amarwara assembly bypoll, Dhiren Shah Invati, filed his nomination papers on Thursday.
Former chief minister Kamal Nath and his son, former Chhindwara MP Nakul Nath, were conspicuous by their absence. Amarwara is one of the seven assembly segments of Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat and the Naths had held sway here since 1980 until Nakul was defeated in the 2024 polls.
However, Congress sources said it was Kamal Nath who chose Invati, a former employee at a cooperative society, for the bypoll.“No decision for Congress in Chhindwara can be taken without the consent of Kamal Nath,” a senior state Congress functionary said.
PCC chief Jitu Patwari, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, former ministers Sajjan Singh Verma and Sukhdev Phanse and former MLA Sanjay Sharma put up a show of strength for Invati in Amarwara on Thursday.
Invati is up against three-time Amarwara MLA Kamlesh Shah — once a close aide of Kamal Nath — who joined BJP on March 23, just ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Shah's defection was a shock to the Naths and Congress.
After the bitter experience of Indore, where Congress candidate Akshay Bam withdrew his nomination paper at the last minute and joined BJP, handing the saffron camp a cakewalk, Congress has decided to have a back-up candidate in Amarwara.
District panchayat member Naveen Markam also filed his nomination papers. In case of an Indore-like crisis, Congress will have Markam step up.
AICC announced Invati’s name for the bypoll on Wednesday evening. He had resigned from his job just hours prior.Congress has played the spiritual card to combat ruling BJP's might. Invati is the son of Sukhram Dada, a priest of Anchal Kund Dham, a temple of great devotion for Chhindwara tribals. Knowing the importance of Anchal Kund Dham, Union home minister Amit Shah had offered prayers here in March last year.
The regional Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) is known to have a special attachment with the Dham, and Invati could get its support.
Addressing a public meeting in Amarwara after nomination filing on Thursday, Patwari said that the constituency has always “kept the honour of tribals by supporting Congress”.