New entrant in the Congress camp, Vikram Mastal Sharma, known for his role as Lord Hanuman in Anand Sagar's Ramayana in 2008, has been chosen to challenge incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the Budhni assembly seat.
Vikram, who hails from Chouhan's constituency, joined the party in July 2023 at a Hanuman temple in Chhindwara constructed by state party chief Kamal Nath.
Chouhan, who has won five assembly elections from his home seat faces challenges due to anti-incumbency and internal discord within the BJP as he enters the election arena from the same seat.