BHOPAL: Bharatiya Janata Party lost Vidisha - considered to be its safest seat in Madhya Pradesh so far, this assembly polls on Tuesday. Congress candidate, Shashank Shrikishan Bhargav defeated BJP’s Mukesh Tandon with a margin of around 15,000 votes. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had won Vidisha assembly constituency in 2013 assembly polls. Vidisha constituency was the BJP’s safe bet since 1977.CM Chouhan had contested and won from Vidisha and Budhni in 2013 assembly elections. After which, he vacated Vidisha necessitating a crucial by-election in 2014 and his trusted aide Mukesh Tandon was fielded and he won against Congress candidate, Shashank Shrikishan Bhargav.The last time Congress had won the Vidisha assembly constituency was in 1972 assembly polls. Bhargav ended Congress’ 46-year drought for Vidisha seat. Congress fielded Bhargav from Vidisha seat for the fourth time in a row.Vidisha was considered as one of the safest seats for BJP not only in assembly polls, but also for Lok Sabha elections. Minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj is MP from the seat for past two terms. Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former prime minister, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee has represented Vidisha in Lok Sabha.Vidisha seat continued to remain in focus for BJP this assembly polls. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi held a rally in Vidisha on November 25- second last day of camapign in state.CM Chouhan did road shows in the district and addressed rallies to gain support for Tandon. On the other hand, Bhargav, a trusted aide of Suresh Pachouri, held his fort alone and no big leader of Congress campaigned for him in Vidisha. Though Congress President Rahul Gandhi held rally in nearby Ganj Basoda constituency.Bhargav is known as businessman turned politician in Vidisha. His strong point was despite losing last four elections, he gave a tough fight to BJP candidates, including chief minister with whom he lost with close to 17,000 votes in 2013.Bhargav announced to give his salary as MLA in development of Vidisha. Bhargav said BJP leaders had always bluffed people of Vidisha and have used them to win elections. People of Vidisha taught BJP a lesson this time, he added.The high profile constituency made headlines in November last year after Vidisha district was marked as one of the most backward in the country in education, health and nutrition. Eight districts from MP were on the list of 115 ‘backward’ districts mapped by the Centre for “rapid transformation”.BJP held its candidate responsible for the defeat. State BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, party lost Vidisha due to local factors and party candidate.

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