In a peculiar turn of events following the Madhya Pradesh assembly election results, Congress MLA Phool Singh Baraiya has made headlines by fulfilling a promise he made during the campaign period. Baraiya had pledged to blacken his face if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 50 seats in the state assembly elections.
True to his word, the Bhander MLA, along with party leaders and workers, gathered outside Raj Bhavan in Bhopal at 2 pm on December 7, as per the predetermined time and location. Former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, a senior Congress leader, was present and marked Baraiya’s face with black. Although Baraiya requested Singh to apply more, Singh declined.
Providing a somewhat bizarre explanation for his unusual action, Baraiya claimed that blackening his face was symbolic of his commitment to protecting democracy and the constitution. He affirmed, “I had to keep my word. Congress and I will keep fighting for democracy.”
Digvijaya Singh commended Baraiya for honoring his promise and explained his decision to mark Baraiya’s face. Singh stated, “I stopped him because what he stated turned out to be true. Despite having a lead, the BJP received fewer than 50 seats in the postal vote. Hence, he doesn’t need to blacken his face. The face of BJP should be blackened since they are the ones who brought democracy to an end.”
Singh added, “I am applying this black mark so that Baraiya does not attract anyone’s evil eye. We are people of our word, and therefore, I am honoring him with a tilak (forehead mark). In actuality, EVM is going to be blackened because Congress won on the ballot paper while lost in the EVM.” The incident adds a unique and theatrical dimension to the post-election political landscape in Madhya Pradesh.
Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to unethical means during the elections, an MLA asserted that the party engaged in the purchase of votes. The MLA claimed that, in a bid to secure popular support, the BJP distributed envelopes containing cash. He contended, “They have conspired to win the elections. Despite extensive campaigning across various castes and constituencies, I observed no inclination towards the saffron party among the public.”
Yogesh Dandautiya, the leader of the Kisan Congress, previously expressed solidarity with Phool Singh Baraiya by blackening his face in Gwalior. Congressman Rajendra Singh argued against Baraiya blackening his face, asserting that it played into the BJP’s desire to stigmatize Dalits. Singh pointed out that the BJP had pledged Rs 15 lakh for each individual and vowed to double farmers’ incomes but had failed to fulfill these commitments. Consequently, Singh argued that Baraiya need not resort to face blackening as the BJP had not lived up to its promises.
Despite Baraiya’s victory in the Bhander seat with 29,438 votes, defeating BJP candidate Ghanshyam Pironiya, the BJP secured a significant two-thirds majority in the state by winning 163 seats. In contrast, the Congress was reduced to just 66 seats, underscoring the BJP’s dominance in the election.
