Indore: Congress has launched a full-blown campaign, urging voters to press the NOTA button after its candidate defected and joined the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), media reports said.

The sudden move by Congress candidate Akshay Kanti Bam left Congress stunned and the party is now banking on the NOTA - none of the above - option to "teach a lesson" to the ruling party BJP.

While the BJP has nominated sitting MP Shankar Lalwani, the Congress has not won the Indore constituency in 35 years (since 1989). Worst, this time, it will be the first instance it has even failed to field a candidate.

The Congress has launched a high-octane push for NOTA votes in Indore, which is Madhya Pradesh's biggest in terms of voters.

Akshay Kanti Bam not only quit the race on the last day of withdrawing nominations but also proceeded to quit the party as well.

Following the High Court's rejection of the alternate candidate's plea to run from the constituency under the party's emblem, the Congress has intensified its efforts to garner NOTA votes.

BJP’s campaign had appeared subdued due to the perceived lack of challenge from the remaining 13 candidates in the race.

Former minister and former MP Senior Congress leader Sajjan Verma said in Hindi in a video posted on X, "I appeal to the people of Indore... Our Congress candidate has been stolen by some people, who have deprived you of your right to vote. If you want to teach them a lesson, press the NOTA button and save democracy."

The state Congress chief Jitu Patwari has declared that the party will not extend support to any of the remaining candidates and exhorted the public to press NOTA in order to punish the BJP.

Indore is scheduled to vote in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Monday.