MP Mantri Opts Out of Assembly Polls Citing Health Issues

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh youth and sports minister Yasodhara Raje Scindia has sought to take a break from the electoral politics by opting out of the contest in the ensuing assembly elections in the state, citing health issues.

Ms Scindia, aunt of Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, has moved the party seeking the permission to withdraw from the contest in the year-end assembly polls, sources said.

State BJP president Vishnu Dutt Sharma on Friday confirmed that the minister desired not to seek re-election in the upcoming assembly polls and added that the party would take a decision on it.

Ms Scindia, in her communiqué, to the party said that she was infected by Covid-19 four times during the pandemic and hence, she apprehended that she would not be able to withstand the pressure of campaigning in the polls due to her health issues.

She is a four-time MLA from Shivpuri assembly constituency under Gwalior-Chambal region in the state.

Congress has however taken a swipe at BJP over the minister’s unwillingness to contest in the coming polls, saying that this indicated how BJP leaders were nervous about their prospects in the elections.

“A cabinet minister in the state government is seeking to opt out of the contest in the polls. That indicates the nervousness of BJP leaders about their chances in the upcoming assembly elections”, Congress spokesman here said.