TICKET HOPEFULS LOBBY WITH RAJE AS BJP TRIES TO CONTROL DAMAGE

JAIPUR: Several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders whose names have not found a place in the first list of 131 candidates for the assembly elections met chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Tuesday as lobbying continued ahead of the second list which is expected soon. The party also sought to play down the impact of ministers and legislators not given a ticket contesting as independent candidates.

Some of those whose names have not been included are still hopeful of making it in the next list. Among those who met the CM were ministers Yunus Khan, Kalicharan Saraf, Surendra Pal Singh TT and Hem Singh Bhadana; MLAS Bhawani Singh Rajawat and Om Prakash Hudla, whose names are on hold; and Chandrakanta Meghwal.

Rajawat, who represents Ladpura, said after meeting the chief minister that he is confident of getting a ticket because there is no strong contender from his constituency.

Singh TT, a minister and the MLA from Karanpur, was more discreet and said he came to extend his wishes to the chief minister. “I have to serve the party and whatever responsibility my party gives me I will serve in that capacity,” he added.

Some of the leaders who were refused tickets have resigned and threatened to contest as independents. On Tuesday, Priyanka Choudhary, chairperson of the Barmer Urban Improvement Trust resigned from her post. Choudhary was upset after the party refused her a ticket from the Barmer seat. She denied she is quitting the BJP.

On Monday, PHED minister Surendra Goyal, who was refused a ticket from Jaitaran, resigned from the party. He said he would contest as an independent.

The party, however, insists that there is no rebellion in its ranks. People familiar with the developments said that several BJP leaders, including Raje and party national vice president Om Mathur are reaching out to rebels. “We undertook a rigorous exercise to select candidates. Wherever there are some rebels we will talk and try to convince them,” Mathur said.