Battle of a different kind in saffron citadel Vidisha

AS the alleged acts of sexual exploitation of women by Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna threatened to become a major poll issue ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7, the regional party on Tuesday swung into damage control mode by suspending him from the party.

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Vidisha has been a saffron citadel right from its formation, electing Pandit Shiv Sharma of the erstwhile Jan Sangh in its first election in 1967. Since then, the constituency has always chosen rightwing candidates, except in 1980 and 1984 when Congress’ Pratap Bhanu Sharma triumphed. The Congress warhorse is now back in the race to challenge Chouhan, who has won five times from Vidisha. The contest is keenly watched because Sharma, now 77 years, is the only Congress leader to have won the seat in the past 57 years.