Vidisha Lok Sabha seat election: The electoral landscape of Madhya Pradesh braces itself as the Lok Sabha Elections of 2024 unfold, with the Vidisha parliamentary constituency emerging as a focal point of political interest. Scheduled for the third phase of voting Vidisha, known as the stronghold of BJP-Jana Sangh, awaits the verdict of its electorate amidst historical precedents and contemporary political manoeuvres.


Vidisha Lok Sabha Seat — A BJP-Jana Sangh Bastion


Vidisha, a constituency steeped in political legacy, has traditionally leaned towards the BJP-Jana Sangh camp, with stalwarts like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj commanding electoral victories in the past. The constituency has garnered attention once again as former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a political heavyweight, seeks re-election under the BJP banner.


This electoral battleground, encompassing regions like Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Guna, Sagar, Bhopal, Rajgarh, and the eponymous Vidisha, is witnessing a fierce political contest. Notably, the Congress party, the primary opposition, is yet to unveil its contender for the Vidisha seat, setting the stage for a compelling showdown.


Vidisha voted for the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in its first Lok Sabha elections in 1967.  The Sangh held onto the seat till 1977 when it merged with other parties to win the seat again as the Janata Parties. Vidisha Lok Sabha seat has been won by the Congress only in two elections — 1980 and 1984.  On both occasions, Congress's Pratap Bhanu Sharma beat Raghavji, who fought on Janata Party and BJP tickets.


Raghavji, who won the Vidisha seat in 1977 on a JNP ticket, wrested it back from the Congress in 1989 on a BJP ticket. In 1991, the seat voted for Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Shivraj Singh Chouhan won the constituency in the bypoll held the same year after Vajpayee vacated it to keep the Lucknow seat he won simultaneously.


Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Unbeaten Run In Vidisha


Shivraj Singh Chouhan's formidable presence in Vidisha is underscored by his political trajectory, having secured victory in the constituency consistently since 1991. This gained him entry to the Lok Sabha. He won the seat five times in a row till 2004. In 2005, he decided to give up the seat as he moved to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly to assume the Chief Minister's role. Shivraj Singh Chouhan held the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat for the longest time.


The seat, however, continued to vote for the BJP, electing Rampal Singh in 2006 (bypoll), Sushma Swaraj in 2009 and 2014, and Ramakant Bhargava in 2019. This year, Shivraj Singh Chouhan is back eyeing another victory. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate.


The Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency comprises eight assembly seats, including Bhojpur, Vidisha, Ichhawar, Sanchi, Basoda, Khategaon, Silwani, and Budhni. Of these, seven are presently under the BJP's sway, with the Congress party holding a solitary seat. 


In 2019, Vidisha had 17.4 lakh voters, of whom 12.5 lakh turned out to vote.