Bhavana ‘Aparajita’ Shukla
Putting an end to suspense over the Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh, the Congress on Wednesday has fielded Ashok Singh, the party’s Treasurer in State unit, for Rajya Sabha. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, State Congress Media President, K K Mishra informed that All India Congress Preisent, Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the candidature of Ashok Singh to contest ensuing biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from the state. Names of former State Congress Women Cell President Shobha Ojha, farmer leader Arun Yadav and Kamleshwar Patel were doing rounds. Speculation of OBC candidate and Young face were also in power corridors. In view of Singh’s accpetance in all the sections of the party and he has held several key positions within the state organisation.
His influence in state Congress can be understood with the fact that his appointment in Apex Bank was the first political appointment durign Kamalnath’s governemnt. Singh a senior Congress leader from Gwalior,has contested three Lok Sabha elections. He has a strong hold in Gwalior-Chambal region. Although it is believed that he belongs to Digvijay Singh Camp but Party Sources said that he has got support from both the prominent leaders Kamalnath and Digvijaya Singh as both have agreed on Ashok Singh’s name for the Upper House.
It is seen that in the said region, the party is trying to infuse enthusiam among workers as the party has suffered set back in the region in recenlty held assembly elections. Former leader of opposition Dr. Govind Singh who hails from this region had defeated the elections. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia belongs from Gwalior region had given a jolt to the congress party in 2020. Singh belongs to an influencial political family of the region. His father Rajendra Singh was minister in Shayama Charan Shukla’s government.