BHOPAL: With two weeks to go for voting day, BJP MLA Yashodhara Raje Scindia is crossing dates on her calendar, seeking a third term from Shivpuri. Congress has fielded 33-year old cement trader Siddharth Lada, who is seen as a lightweight and a virtual walkover to Yashodhara Raje. The Scindia family has never lost an election here.BJP has held sway since 1977, with Congress winning Shivpuri only thrice (1980, 1985 and 2007). “Where would one go… aunt or the nephew? They are family from two parties. You won’t see around any aggressive campaign from supporters of both rival parties. It’s a straight walk over according to me,” said a Shivpuri resident wishing not to be quoted. He claims to be a Congress supporter.Siddharth has declared properties worth Rs 1 crore including Rs 15.45 lakhs cash in hand. Yashodhara has disclosed around Rs 8 crore worth of assets including Rs 18,000 cash. She won the last election bya margin of 11,145 votes against Congress candidate Virendra Raghuvanshi, securing 76,330 votes.Siddharth who became Shivpuri city congress president two years ago is known to be a close aide of Yashodhara’s nephew Jyotiraditya Scindia.Residents say Jyotiraditya will carry out a vehicle rally in Shivpuri on Thursday but will not address public gathering in favour of Siddharth. Jyotiradiya had visited Shivpuri only once during 2013 polls, residents say.Virendra Raghuvanshi, who had lost 2013 polls to Yashodhara in a close battle had joined BJP in 2014, alleging that Jyotiraditya did not campaigned for him whole-heartedly. Raghuvanshi is now contesting from Kolaras seat on a BJP ticket.Claims apart. During recent Kolaras and Mungaoli by-polls Yashodhara was seen seeking votes by invoking legacy of her mother, while Jyotiraditya referred to his late father Madhavrao Scindia’s contribution in the development of the area.Yashodhara had first contested the seat in 1998 and got around 51% of total votes against Congress candidate Hariballabh Shukla. In 2003, her victory margin was higher.Congress candidate Virendra Raghuvanshi, had won Shivpuri seat in 2007. In 2008, BJP candidate Makhanlal Rathore had won this seat defeating Congress candidate Virendra Raghuvanshi in a strongly contested election.In 2007 BJP's Yashodhara Scindia won the Gwalior Lok Sabha by poll, defeating Congress candidate Ashok Singh by more than 35,000 votes. The byelection was held following expulsion of Ramsevak Singh Gujjar from Parliament for his alleged involvement in the cash-forquery scam.

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