Madhya Pradesh Congress has expelled as many as 39 leaders, including two former MLAs, from the party for a period of six years due to anti-party activities. Many of these rebel leaders have filed nominations to contest as independents against the official Congress candidates in the poll-bound state.

This move has been undertaken based on the orders of the state unit chief of the Congress party, Kamal Nath. Reportedly, many of these expelled leaders are running as independent candidates or contesting on the tickets of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Among the 39 expelled Congress leaders, there are several prominent names, including former MP Premchand Guddu, former MLA Antar Singh Darbar, former MLA Yadvendra Singh and former state party spokesperson Ajay Singh Yadav.

Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming to retain power, while the opposition Congress is striving hard to return to power.

Amid the intense campaign by both parties, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are going to address several public rallies in the coming days in Madhya Pradesh, including padayatras by Rahul Gandhi whose ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ previously generated wide interest among the people. According to a Telegraph report, Rahul Gandhi will be holding padayatras in Jabalpur and Bhopal while Kharge and Priyanka will be addressing public meetings across the state.

As per the official notification from the Election Commission, the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections will be held in a single phase for all 230 seats on November 17. The counting of votes will be held on December 3.

(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)