The political contest for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh has intensified, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielding a surprise third candidate, prompting the Congress to consider relocating its legislators amid fears of cross-voting and poaching ahead of the June 18 polls. The development comes as the electoral arithmetic in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly—currently reduced to an effective strength of 229—tightens ahead of voting. A candidate requires 58 first-preference votes to win a seat in the Rajya Sabha election, making every vote crucial in a closely watched political contest.

The ruling BJP, which holds 164 MLAs, is already comfortably placed to secure two of the three seats. However, the party’s decision to nominate a third candidate, Mahesh Kewat, chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Fishermen Welfare Board, on the final day of nominations has significantly altered the political dynamics and raised the stakes for the third seat.The BJP has also fielded party national general secretary Tarun Chugh and state unit secretary Rajneesh Agrawal.  Party insiders said the move to introduce a third candidate was taken after consultations with the central leadership and kept confidential until the last moment, reportedly to maximise strategic advantage in the vote distribution process.

The Congress, meanwhile, has nominated former MP Meenakshi Natarajan and is attempting to consolidate its support base to ensure her victory. However, concerns over possible defections or cross-voting have prompted the party to explore preventive measures, including shifting its MLAs out of Madhya Pradesh until polling concludes. According to party sources, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held a meeting at the residence of Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar to discuss the relocation plan.

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Around 60 MLAs reportedly attended the meeting, while senior leader Kamal Nath joined virtually. The proposal is said to have been discussed in consultation with the party’s central leadership, with Bengaluru in Karnataka or Telangana emerging as possible destinations. The move is being seen as a precautionary step rooted in past political instability, particularly the 2020 crisis when defections by MLAs aligned with Jyotiraditya Scindia led to the fall of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in the state. Party leaders are reportedly keen to avoid a repeat of such developments during the sensitive Rajya Sabha voting process.

Within the Congress, internal uncertainties persist as the party holds 64 MLAs, though one legislator is unable to vote following a Supreme Court ruling. Another MLA, Nirmala Sapre, has recently been seen sharing platforms with BJP leaders and has stayed away from key party meetings, further adding to concerns. Political observers note that even with its current strength, the BJP would still require additional votes to secure a third seat, making cross-party support or strategic abstentions critical. As the election approaches, both parties are expected to intensify efforts to secure loyalty and prevent last-minute shifts in support.

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