Bhopal, Nov 22 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is lesser known in the tribal areas of Shahdol, but is called 'Shivraj mama ki party' (Uncle Shivraj's party) owing to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's popularity, a minister said.

In the ongoing Madhya Pradesh by-polls, BJP's Manju Dadu defeated Congress' Antar Singh in Nepanagar by 42,198 votes, while BJP's Gyan Singh is leading in Shahdol against Congress' Himandari Singh.

Exemplifying the Chief Minister's popularity, State Home and Transport Minister Bhoopendra Singh said on Tuesday," At the election rally in Shahdol, Chouhan realised that BJP is known among the tribal areas as 'mama Shivraj ki party' (Uncle Shivraj's party)."

Talking to reporters, Singh said "The Congress tried to capitalise on the popularity of the Chief Minister and told people in these tribal areas that his election symbol was the hand."

"Our party members had to go around later and say that the Chief Minister's election symbol was actually the lotus," he added.