In Madhya Pradesh, the national highway from Bhopal to Chhindwara via Budhni traverses a variegated and crucial political landscape

Journey down Bhopal-Nagpur highway reveals pitched battle between the BJP and the Congress. Supporters of CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia debate who will be the next CM. PM Modi's image stands out in posters but Congress' Kamal Nath has support in tribal-dominated Betul and SC-reserved Amla. Voters discuss unemployment, inflation and lack of basic amenities.

The national highway from Bhopal to Nagpur could easily be one of the most politically significant routes in Madhya Pradesh now. Around 70 km from Bhopal is Budhni, the constituency of incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while Chhindwara, the bastion of Congress veteran Kamal Nath, is roughly 280 km away from the State capital. A journey down this road, passing through several constituencies, including Hoshangabad, Ghoradongri, Amla and Betul provides a glimpse of the pitched battle that is being fought between the BJP and the Congress.

At a dhaba that falls under the Budhni constituency, an intense debate breaks out over who would be the next Chief Minister. “Shivraj bhaiyya is popular but it will be difficult for him to become CM again,” declared Nemi Kushwaha, who is in his early 40s. “This time, there is a wave in favour of Scindia-ji,” he added, referring to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia as a potential chief ministerial contender.

Among a section of the BJP’s supporters, it is a common refrain that the party should pick a young leader like Mr. Scindia as the next CM to bear voter fatigue with Mr Chouhan. However, there are many loyalists of Mr. Singh batting for another term for him. “How can Scindia-ji be the CM? He has recently come from the Congress and he is too young to be CM,” argued Nilesh Mehra, Mr. Kushwaha’s friend and co-worker.

For now, the BJP has settled the debate by emphasising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Mr. Modi’s image stand out in every poster, and he continues to be the BJP’s chief campaigner.

Neither Mr. Kushwaha nor Mr. Mehra mention as their choice Mr. Nath, the Congress challenger contesting his second Assembly election from Chhindwara. But as one gets off the Bhopal-Nagpur national highway, after crossing Shahpur, voices supporting Mr. Nath grow.

About 110 km before Chhindwara lies the tribal-dominated Betul district where Anita Selu, 21, is walking to the forest with her mother and niece to fetch wood they will sell to make a living. Ms. Selu says the Congress is more popular among tribal voters in her region. “I do get money under the Ladli Behna scheme [of the BJP government] but the Congress is stronger here,” she said.

In nearby Sarni of the Scheduled Caste (SC)-reserved Amla constituency, several residents believe the Congress would have had a better chance in wresting the seat had it fielded former Deputy Collector Nisha Bangre, who resigned from the service to join politics. The Congress had initially held the seat for her but the party eventually fielded Manoj Malve as there was a delay in the State government accepting Ms. Bangre’s resignation.