BJP ends OP Sharma’s 50-year sway on Meerut teachers’ seat

Defeated candidate alleges bogus votes were cast, BJP rejects allegation

HE WAS STILL PRESIDENT OF THE UP MADHYAMIK SHIKSHAK SANGH AND WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE TEACHERS

LUCKNOW : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Srichand Sharma won the Meerut division teachers’ seat in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council election on Friday, ending the nearly 50-year dominance of sitting MLC Om Prakash Sharma, who is also the president of the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh.

OP Sharma, who had been elected eight times on this seat in the past including his maiden win in 1970, lost to Srichand Sharma by a margin of over 4,500 votes.

Similarly, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hari Singh Dhillon won the teachers’ seat in the Bareilly-Moradabad division by 7,980 votes. Counting for the graduates’ seat in Meerut is under way.

The party’s western Uttar Pradesh president Mohit Beniwal said the strength of the party organisation and efficient booth management helped the party candidates win.

“Party candidates have already won both teachers’ seats and will win the graduates’ seat too,” he said.

Om Prakash Sharma, however, said it was the “defeat of democracy” and alleged that bogus votes were cast. He claimed that a school peon cast votes posing as a teacher. He, however, said he would not go to court.

“I am now 87 years old and don’t want myself to be dragged into a long and complex legal procedure,” he said.

He added that he was still president of the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh and would continue to serve teachers from this platform.

On the other hand, Beniwal said OP Sharma’s charges were baseless.