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In the first phase of Madhya Pradesh's Lok Sabha elections on Friday, six out of the state's 29 parliamentary seats will see polling. These include Balaghat, Chhindwara, Jabalpur, Mandla, Shahdol, and Sidhi. The Lok Sabha polls, anticipated with much fervor, commence with 102 parliamentary seats across 21 states and Union territories participating in the initial phase.

Key Candidates and Constituencies

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently holds 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh. Notably, in the previous 2019 elections, the BJP secured victories in 28 constituencies, while the sole exception was Chhindwara, won by Congress's Nakul Nath, son of former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. In the forthcoming elections, prominent candidates from BJP in the first phase include Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste from Mandla and Himadri Singh from Shahdol.

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On the Congress front, key contenders include Nakul Nath from Chhindwara and Omkar Markam, the general secretary of the party's state unit, contesting from Mandla.

Detailed Poll Schedule and Candidates

Beyond the initial phase, Madhya Pradesh's electoral calendar unfolds as follows: 

- April 26: Seven constituencies, namely Betul, Damoh, Khajuraho, Hoshangabad, Riva, Satna, and Tikamgarh, will go to polls.
  
- May 7: Eight constituencies, including Bhind, Bhopal, Gwalior, Guna, Morena, Rajgarh, Sagar, and Vidisha, will participate in the electoral process.
  
- May 13: The remaining eight constituencies - Dewas, Dhar, Indore, Mandsaur, Khandwa, Khargone, Ratlam, and Ujjain - will conclude the polling process.

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The elections hold significant importance for both major political parties, with each vying to consolidate their positions in the state's parliamentary landscape.

Madhya Pradesh's Lok Sabha elections mark the commencement of a crucial electoral process that will determine the representation of the state in the Indian Parliament. With six constituencies going to polls in the initial phase, the political landscape is set for an intense battle between key candidates from BJP and Congress. Stay tuned for updates as the electoral saga unfolds in subsequent phases across the state.