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With nomination papers of Congress candidate Rajkumar Patel rejected by the district collector on Monday, the party has virtually "gifted" veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj the Vidisha seat.
The Congress nominee failed to submit a necessary document, 'Form A', in the original that is needed to prove that a candidate is a particular party's official choice.
Vidisha is agog, however, with talk of a secret deal between the Congress and the BJP.
Congress party workers and leaders are wondering how a veteran of elections could commit a blunder like this.
"Why didn't a lawyer accompany him while filing papers?" said a political observer who wished to remain anonymous.
In earlier elections, Patel has lost to BJP heavyweights like Sunderlal Patwa and Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Rajkumar Patel is learnt to have reached Delhi to meet senior lawyers, while his superiors approached the Election Commission.
"The party is also planning to challenge the issue in court," the source added.
With 18 candidates, including independents and small parties in the fray, Swaraj is likely to be a winner in the election.
