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Bhopal: Days before polling (3 November) for 28 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has come under sharp attack for a lewd remark he made at an election rally against Madhya Pradesh Women and Child Development Minister Imarti Devi, who held the same portfolio in the Kamal Nath Cabinet.

There is outrage as Kamal Nath called Imarti Devi an “Item”. Nath later told media if anyone thinks he has shown disrespect then he is sorry. He went on to underscore why would he show any disrespect.

Talking to media persons, Imarti Devi broke into tears as she appealed to Congress President Sonia Gandhi to expel Nath from the Congress party.

The State BJP leaders, including chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and party workers even sat on a silent protest across the State. Protestors also burnt Nath’s effigy in the State capital and condemned him for his derogatory remark against Imarti Devi, who comes from the deprived sections and has made a mark in politics through years of dedicated service.

Imarti Devi, a staunch Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist, had resigned from Cabinet and crossed over from Congress to the BJP along with many Cabinet Ministers and MLAs when Scindia also left the Congress and joined the BJP earlier this year. This led to the collapse of the 15 month old Kamal Nath Government and BJP’s return to power in the State.

Out of the 28 seats, to be filled through by election, 24 seats fell vacant with the resignation of Congress Minister and MLAs. 27 of these 28 seats were won by the Congress in the 2018 election.

10 November is the date of counting and declaration of results.