Chatra BJP convener protests ticket denial
RANCHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chatra convener Rajdhani Prasad Yadav staged a sit-in protest in front of the party headquarters on Wednesday against the decision to field Kalicharan Singh from the parliamentary constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, a party worker said.
When asked, a BJP worker close to the developments said, “It was around 9:30 am when Singh staged a dharna in front of the party headquarters and sought the attention of the party’s senior leaders towards him.”
“The party announced the name of the Chatra candidate on March 24, and Yadav marked his protest on March 26,” the BJP worker added.
Yadav confirmed his protest, saying it was justified.
“I have been working for the last 40 years and carried out all responsibilities given to me, while Singh is a newcomer in the party. He was a JVM worker who called bad names for the party for 15 years when we were struggling to make BJP victorious. Apart from this, Singh already has the responsibility of party vice president. Thus, when I returned from Delhi yesterday, I staged a dharna alone in front of the party to mark my protest,” Yadav told Hindustan Times.
“When an examinee fails after answering all the questions correctly in his examination, he has every right to get his copy scrutinized. I just asked my examiner to re-examine my copy and ensure justice,” Yadav said, confirming his protest.
Contacted Singh for his comment, he said: “I am a disciplined worker of the party. I will follow whatever party organization will tell me.”
Asked whether he had any rivalry with Yadav, he said: “No, we have worked together on several occasions.”
When contacted, BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said there is nothing unnatural in a big party like BJP.
“BJP is the biggest democratic party in the world, and all party workers have the right to share their grievances. The party also considers their grievance and, if found correct, ensures justice. Sometimes, when giving instant justice does not become possible, it is ensured after some time,” Shahdeo said.
“After Yadav marked his protest, he was immediately heard by the party’s state organising secretary Karmaveer Singh and party general secretary, Pradeep Verma,” the party spokesperson said.
Kalicharan Singh is an ex-high school science teacher. He worked as the vice president of the party.
Earlier, he held the post of the national general secretary of BJP Kisan Morcha. He is an alumnus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).