India
More dissenting voices in BJP; Former OBC panel chief says Saini not given much say in ticket allocation – Times of India
CHANDIGARH: Amid growing divisions within the ruling BJP in Haryana over distribution of ballotsBJP party leader Karan Dev Kamboj on Wednesday had said the uprising could have been averted if Chief Minister Nayab Saini had had a “speech” in the allotment process. Meanwhile, senior party leader from south Haryana Ram Bilas Sharma filed his nomination papers from Mahendragarh. It seems he was apprehensive that the BJP would not nominate him. Sharma, a former minister, filed his papers even though the party is yet to announce the name of its candidate for the seat.
Party leader and former MLA from Hathin segment Kehar Singh Rawat quit the BJP after he was denied a ticket.
Another party leader, Zile Ram Sharma, was also angry that Assandh was not given an election ticket and was also angry.
This comes two days after Union Minister and Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh said people want him to become Prime Minister.
Home Minister Amit Shah had already announced that the elections would be held under Saini’s leadership.
Former minister Kamboj, who resigned as leader of the state unit’s OBC Morcha last week after he was denied a ticket to contest the October 5 state assembly elections, alleged that many party leaders who should have been given tickets were ignored.
“When the BJP nominated Nayab Saini as the chief minister, the party’s chart went up. But while the candidates were being chosen, the CM did not have much say in the allocation of tickets… The revolt, which we are seeing in many seats, could have been avoided,” he alleged.
Kamboj, who like Saini hails from the OBC community, said he has not yet resigned as a primary member of the BJP and his supporters will decide on his next move. He had his eye on a ticket from the Indri and Radaur segments.
The BJP leader alleged that the party was rewarding many newcomers and defectors with tickets while ignoring those who have been working there for years.
On Tuesday, BJP state-level vice-president Santosh Yadav quit the party, alleging that grassroots leaders loyal to the party are being neglected.
Yadav, a former deputy speaker of the state assembly, is said to be eyeing a candidate from Ateli constituency, where the BJP has chosen Inderjit Singh’s daughter Aarti Singh Rao as its candidate.
Shortly after the BJP presented its first list of 67 candidates last week, a revolt broke out in the party. Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and MLA Lakshman Dass Napa were denied the right to vote and could not leave the party.
There were some lesser-known party leaders who followed in their footsteps, while some of the party’s familiar faces openly expressed their disappointment after being denied their election cards.
Amid the protesting voices, Rao Inderjit Singh on Monday said it was not his wish but that of the public that he should become the prime minister.
“Even today people still wish that I (Rao) become CM,” he had said.
Singh, who was addressing a rally in support of BJP candidate Mukesh Sharma in Gurugram, also blamed the state government for allowing garbage to pile up on the roads and not cleaning the drains.
“You will be told that I could not clean Gurgaon and the sewers,” said Singh, a senior BJP leader whose stronghold is south Haryana.
The BJP on Tuesday released a second list of 21 candidates for the Haryana state assembly elections, dropping two ministers and replacing the candidate for the Pehowa seat.
The ruling party also denied tickets to sitting MLAs from Ganaur, Pataudi, Hathin and Hodal seats.
The troubles for the BJP started soon after the first list of candidates came out. Many people were irritated by it.
Minister of State for Social Justice, Empowerment, SCs and BCs Bishamber Singh, the MLA from Bawani Khera reserve seat, was in tears after the party gave ticket to Kapur Valmiki for the seat, while former minister Kavita Jain was also in tears after he was denied ticket from Sonipat.
Khattar had on Monday said there could be more than one candidate per seat as the BJP announced its first list of candidates on September 4, triggering a revolt in a few seats.
There could be some resentment if a candidate does not get a party ticket, and that happens in every election, he added.
“We have reassured many people and will speak to the remaining people in a day or two,” Khattar had said.
The BJP is aiming for a hat-trick in the state assembly elections but faces a tough challenge from a resurgent Congress that wants to capitalise on the anti-incumbency factor. Saini is the face of the BJP’s chief minister for the state assembly elections.
The counting of votes will take place on October 8.
Party leader and former MLA from Hathin segment Kehar Singh Rawat quit the BJP after he was denied a ticket.
Another party leader, Zile Ram Sharma, was also angry that Assandh was not given an election ticket and was also angry.
This comes two days after Union Minister and Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh said people want him to become Prime Minister.
Home Minister Amit Shah had already announced that the elections would be held under Saini’s leadership.
Former minister Kamboj, who resigned as leader of the state unit’s OBC Morcha last week after he was denied a ticket to contest the October 5 state assembly elections, alleged that many party leaders who should have been given tickets were ignored.
“When the BJP nominated Nayab Saini as the chief minister, the party’s chart went up. But while the candidates were being chosen, the CM did not have much say in the allocation of tickets… The revolt, which we are seeing in many seats, could have been avoided,” he alleged.
Kamboj, who like Saini hails from the OBC community, said he has not yet resigned as a primary member of the BJP and his supporters will decide on his next move. He had his eye on a ticket from the Indri and Radaur segments.
The BJP leader alleged that the party was rewarding many newcomers and defectors with tickets while ignoring those who have been working there for years.
On Tuesday, BJP state-level vice-president Santosh Yadav quit the party, alleging that grassroots leaders loyal to the party are being neglected.
Yadav, a former deputy speaker of the state assembly, is said to be eyeing a candidate from Ateli constituency, where the BJP has chosen Inderjit Singh’s daughter Aarti Singh Rao as its candidate.
Shortly after the BJP presented its first list of 67 candidates last week, a revolt broke out in the party. Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and MLA Lakshman Dass Napa were denied the right to vote and could not leave the party.
There were some lesser-known party leaders who followed in their footsteps, while some of the party’s familiar faces openly expressed their disappointment after being denied their election cards.
Amid the protesting voices, Rao Inderjit Singh on Monday said it was not his wish but that of the public that he should become the prime minister.
“Even today people still wish that I (Rao) become CM,” he had said.
Singh, who was addressing a rally in support of BJP candidate Mukesh Sharma in Gurugram, also blamed the state government for allowing garbage to pile up on the roads and not cleaning the drains.
“You will be told that I could not clean Gurgaon and the sewers,” said Singh, a senior BJP leader whose stronghold is south Haryana.
The BJP on Tuesday released a second list of 21 candidates for the Haryana state assembly elections, dropping two ministers and replacing the candidate for the Pehowa seat.
The ruling party also denied tickets to sitting MLAs from Ganaur, Pataudi, Hathin and Hodal seats.
The troubles for the BJP started soon after the first list of candidates came out. Many people were irritated by it.
Minister of State for Social Justice, Empowerment, SCs and BCs Bishamber Singh, the MLA from Bawani Khera reserve seat, was in tears after the party gave ticket to Kapur Valmiki for the seat, while former minister Kavita Jain was also in tears after he was denied ticket from Sonipat.
Khattar had on Monday said there could be more than one candidate per seat as the BJP announced its first list of candidates on September 4, triggering a revolt in a few seats.
There could be some resentment if a candidate does not get a party ticket, and that happens in every election, he added.
“We have reassured many people and will speak to the remaining people in a day or two,” Khattar had said.
The BJP is aiming for a hat-trick in the state assembly elections but faces a tough challenge from a resurgent Congress that wants to capitalise on the anti-incumbency factor. Saini is the face of the BJP’s chief minister for the state assembly elections.
The counting of votes will take place on October 8.
