In a surprising turn of events, Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste faced defeat in the 2023 Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, losing to Congress candidate Chainsingh Warkade in the Niwas constituency. Warkade secured 99,644 votes, while Kulaste garnered 89,921 votes, resulting in a margin of 9,723 votes.
Political Journey of Faggan Singh Kulaste:
– A stalwart in state politics, Kulaste had previously represented the Mandla constituency in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly multiple times.
– He had secured victory in six consecutive elections from Mandla in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2014, and 2019.
– The only setback in his political career was in 2009 when he lost to Congress candidate Basori Singh Masram by a margin of 65,053 votes.
– Kulaste reclaimed the Mandla seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, winning with an impressive margin of 97,674 votes.
– He served as the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs (1999) and Tribal Affairs (1999 to 2004) during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Shift to Niwas Constituency:
– Kulaste entered the Madhya Pradesh Assembly in 1990, representing the Niwas constituency, marking the beginning of his impactful political journey.
– Interestingly, for the 2023 elections, Kulaste replaced his brother, Rampyare Kulaste, who faced defeat in 2018 from the same constituency.
The election results reflect a significant political development as Congress gains ground in Madhya Pradesh, and Union Minister Kulaste faces an unexpected defeat.
