The absence of the Congress party from the Lok Sabha election race in Madhya Pradesh's commercial hub, Indore, has led to a lacklustre and subdued campaigning atmosphere, dealing a blow to vendors selling party flags and banners.
All eyes are now on whether 'NOTA' (none of the above) could set a new record on May 13.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated incumbent MP Shankar Lalwani, while the Congress candidate, Akshay Kanti Bam, withdrew his nomination on the final day of the process, leaving the opposition party out of contention.
Encouraging voters to choose 'NOTA' as a means to express dissatisfaction with the BJP, the Congress has been organising torch rallies, meetings, and engaging in discussions on social media.
Despite being the largest Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh with 2.513 million voters, the BJP has refrained from organising meetings featuring top party leaders. State party spokesperson Alok Dubey stated that the current strategy is sufficient to secure victory by an "overwhelming majority."
Reflecting on the lack of competition, Girdharilal Joshi, a long-time flag and banner vendor in the Rajwada area, remarked, "I have never seen such a dull Lok Sabha election campaign before. There is no enthusiasm among the local people about the polls."
Another vendor, Prakash Vishwakarma, lamented that his stock of Rs 10 lakh worth of materials remains unsold, as there is little interest in spending on publicity when the outcome seems predetermined.
Indore has remained a stronghold of the BJP since 1989, and with only 14 candidates in the fray, nine of whom are independents, the ruling party anticipates a victory margin of over eight lakh votes.
President of the Indore Press Club, Arvind Tiwari, noted, "The current election atmosphere, especially the reactions of senior citizens and intellectuals, suggests NOTA could set a new record this time."
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Indore recorded a voter turnout of 69 percent, with 5,045 votes cast for 'NOTA.'
The BJP has criticised the Congress' support for 'NOTA,' labelling it as part of the opposition party's "negative politics" and an "attack on democracy."
Meanwhile, Lalwani remains active on social media and is participating in campaign events across the constituency, aiming to secure a significant victory margin.
When questioned about the absence of top party leaders' meetings, MP BJP spokesperson Alok Dubey stated, "We have Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state unit chief Vishnu Dutt Sharma's programmes here as part of our strategy. These are sufficient to ensure a victory with an overwhelming majority."
Indore is set to go to the polls on May 13 in the fourth phase.
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