Back on his home turf for his last election, Digvijaya Singh tries to reignite old connect with Rajgarh

Congress’ Digvijaya Singh is now the party’s Lok Sabha candidate from Rajgarh, his home constituency. He is pitted against two-term BJP MP Rodmal Nagar, who won the seat in the 2019 election

At around 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, when the sun is at its peak, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh visits the Hoda Mata temple atop a hill in Rajgarh’s Dhand village, barely a couple of kilometres from the State’s border with Rajasthan. After the darshan, he briefly chats with vendors outside the temple, who share their view on various issues, including the broken uphill road and an incomplete public toilet for devotees. He then heads to Bhumaria village for a small public meeting.

Loaded with diverse profile ranging from 10 years as CM to Congress general secretary to currently a Rajya Sabha member, the 77-year-old ‘Raja Saheb’ (as he is called in the area) is now the party’s Lok Sabha candidate from Rajgarh, his home constituency. He is pitted against two-term BJP MP Rodmal Nagar, who won the seat in the 2019 election by a big margin of 4.31 lakh votes. 

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After initial reluctance over contesting the election, Mr. Singh finally accepted his party high command’s decision. However, he has made it clear that this will be his last election, which he does not forget to mention at his public meetings.

As he arrives in the small ground of Bhumaria’s government primary school, a group of about 100 men and a handful of women gather under the tent. In his short speech, he recalls the works done during his tenure as CM between 1993 and 2003, mainly the appointment of youth as government teachers.

Apart from hitting out at the BJP on various issues, including unemployment, the prices of food items, and farmers’ woes, Mr. Singh also alleges that the Constitution made by Bhimrao Ambedkar is “in danger”.

“The BJP and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi-ji are taking steps to end democracy,” he says.