New Delhi, Nov 14: As the nomination for the December 01 assembly polls came to a close today, BJP has fielded its chief ministerial candidates for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh from only one constituency as against its earlier decision that they would contest from two seats. Party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had yesterday said that besides Jhalarpatan, Raje would also be fielded from Pilawa Assembly seat which is in her Lok Sabha constituency of Jhalawar in view of the demand by the state unit that she should contest from two as it would have a "positive impact in the neighbouring assembly segments."

However, in a virtual U-turn, the party described as "media speculation" that its chief ministerial candidates including Raje would be contesting from two assembly seats. Party president M Venkaiah Naidu said it was the party's decision that none of its candidates would contest from more than one assembly seat and for this reason even BJP's senior leader in Chhattisgarh Nand Kumar Sai would now contest against Chief Minister Ajit Jogi from Marwahi while in his Tapkara constituency the party is fielding Bharat Sai.

The party will be fielding sitting MP Vishnu Sai from Pathal Gaon and Vijay Aggarwal from Raigarh.

Raje, who is facing Congress MP and Rajesh pilot's widow Rama Pilot, filed her papers only from Jhalrapatan Assembly constituency, backing out of an earlier decision to contest from Pidawa also. The party has fielded K Patidar from Pidawa, Gurudip Singh from Bharatpur, Jagbir Singh from Deeg, Dharamvir Sharma from Lakshmangarh, hem Singh Gujjar from Thangsay and Harcharan Singh from Rajakheda.

Bureau Report