The BJP has already fielded 50 per cent women candidates in the upcoming by-elections to four seats in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's announcement that her party would give 40 per cent tickets to women in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections due next year.
Shivraj Chouhan was talking to reporters on Tuesday night at Jobat in Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur district during his campaign for the Assembly by-election there.
In Madhya Pradesh, by-elections to three Assembly seats - Jobat (Alirajpur), Raigaon (Satna), Prithvirpur (Niwari) - and Khandwa Lok Sabha constituency are scheduled on October 30.
Reacting to Priyanka Gandhi's announcement, Mr Chouhan said, "I don't know what she said, but we in Madhya Pradesh have fielded 50 per cent women candidates in the bypolls to four seats. Out of the four seats, our sisters are contesting on two seats, Sulochana Rawat in Jobat and Pratima Bagri in Raigaon (both Assembly seats)."
Mr Chouhan also expressed hope that the BJP will get a resounding success in the by-elections.
After holding five public meetings, Mr Chouhan spent the night at the house of a tribal, Bharchand Bhuria, in Kabirsej village of Jobal Assembly constituency.
"The joy of living in a village is completely different. So, instead of staying in the city, I decided to stay in the village. I consider it my good fortune that I am among my dear ones," Shivraj Chouhan said in a tweet in Hindi.
Before arriving at the village, Mr Chouhan reached out to members of the Muslim community and greeted them on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi on Tuesday at Chandra Shekhar Azad Nagar in Jobat Assembly segment.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
BJP Flags Waved At Priyanka Gandhi During Nagpur Roadshow. She Did This Dalit Village Set On Fire In Post-Poll Violence In Madhya Pradesh 'Wayanad AQI 35, Delhi Like Gas Chamber': Priyanka Gandhi's Toxic Air Post "Thousand Times Better...": Delhi Lt Governor's Surprise For AAP's Atishi 2 Children Strangled To Death In Bengaluru, Parents Blame Each Other: Cops "World War 3 Has Begun": Ukraine Ex-Military Commander Amid Russia Conflict 25 Charged Over Attacking Civic Officials For Removing Encroachment: Police Bastar Will Be Maoist-Free Very Soon, Says Chhattisgarh Minister Arun Sao Petrol Pump Owner, Son Shot At Over Bill In UP's Kaushambi: Police Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.