BJP’s Mahesh Kevat slams Congress after winning unopposed:Says, ‘election win was certain’; claims High Court will reject their plea

After Congress leader and Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination was rejected in the Rajya Sabha election, BJP’s third candidate Mahesh Kevat was elected unopposed as a Rajya Sabha MP. Natarajan approached the Election Commission and even the Supreme Court, but did not get relief. She is now expected to file an election petition in the High Court. In an exclusive conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, newly elected MP Mahesh Kevat spoke about the election, the controversy, and Congress’ allegations. Q: What do you have to say about your election victory? Mahesh Kevat: I express heartfelt gratitude to the leadership of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, national president Nitin Nabin, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, and state president Hemant Khandelwal for giving a grassroots worker such a big responsibility. Q: You were expelled from the party three years ago, and now you’ve received two major responsibilities in a month. How? Mahesh Kevat: You are referring to 2022. I have continuously worked for the BJP. In the 2023 Assembly elections, I was part of the state-level election management team. I have been actively working for the party since then. If there were any discrepancies in documents or claims made by someone earlier, I am not aware. I have never contested elections against the BJP. I have always worked as assigned by the party. Since 2023, I have continuously been engaged in party work. Whenever the Chief Minister visited Tikamgarh and Niwari, I was present at both government and party events. If any mistake happened earlier, the party must have reviewed it internally. The party keeps a close watch on every worker. Q: You became Chairman of the Fishermen Welfare Board just a month ago, and now suddenly a Rajya Sabha seat. How did you get two major responsibilities? Mahesh Kevat: This is the strength of BJP’s leadership. No one understands better than BJP how to assign responsibility to workers. I have been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood. Later I worked in ABVP and also served as a BJP office-bearer in Tikamgarh-Niwari region. The party decides responsibilities based on capability and need. Q: When your name came up for the third seat, didn’t you feel the party was putting you in a difficult position? Mahesh Kevat: Not at all. When BJP decides something, it is always based on adequate support. The party had full strength and backing. Under PM Modi at the Centre and CM Mohan Yadav in the state, development work is progressing. Even legislators from other parties want a developed Madhya Pradesh. We had full confidence that the third seat would also be won comfortably. Q: Congress claims BJP did not have enough majority? Mahesh Kevat: Congress submitted a false affidavit. That is why the Returning Officer rejected their nomination. They went to the Election Commission and Supreme Court, but truth prevailed everywhere. Now Congress is making comments against court decisions, which is unfortunate. Court decisions must be respected. Q: Congress says it will file an election petition and may get all three seats cancelled? Mahesh Kevat: Courts decide cases, not political parties. They have the right to file a petition, but their claims are false. The same truth that was established at the Election Commission and Supreme Court will be established in the High Court as well. Q: Congress says BJP did not have numbers and won unopposed due to technical reasons? Mahesh Kevat: If voting had taken place, BJP would have won 100 percent. Even before nominations, it was clear that BJP had full support. Congress tried to hide its defeat through false claims. In democracy, people vote based on conscience. Nothing is greater than the nation. Q: What will be your focus as the first Rajya Sabha MP from your community? Mahesh Kevat: It is a matter of pride that for the first time, the Nishad community has got representation in Rajya Sabha. This is due to BJP’s leadership. We will work for development of Bundelkhand and contribute to PM Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and CM Mohan Yadav’s Viksit Madhya Pradesh mission.