Rebellion erupts in BJP after denial of tickets
RUDRAPUR: Denial of tickets has triggered rebellion by BJP aspirants in several constituencies in Uttarakhand. Left out of the BJP’s first list of 59 candidates, these rebels or their supporters either have left the party or are planning to file nominations as independent candidates from their areas.
“If the party didn’t want to give me a ticket, why did our leaders ask me to start preparations for contesting the election? I have made up my mind that I will contest the election as an independent candidate,” said Shripal Rana, a senior BJP leader from Nanakmatta constituency in US Nagar.
Aspirants of BJP tickets from Kashipur, Gadarpur and Kichha of US Nagar are also up in arms after the party announced candidates. In Kashipur, BJP has given ticket to Trilok singh Cheema, son of sitting and four-time MLA Harbhajan Singh Cheema who had expressed his unwillingness for contesting election as he turned 75 year old. He had sought a ticket for his son Trilok.
In Gadarpur, Ravindra Bajaj has left the party and decided to contest election as an independent. Bajaj contested the 2007 assembly elections as a BJP candidate but lost to the BSP candidate.
In Kichha, ticket aspirant Ajay Tiwari of the BJP has announced to contest election as an independent. He was in the Congress and after denial of ticket in 2017 elections, he joined the BJP.
Rebellion has also erupted in Nainital, Bhimtal, Dwarahat and Dharchula seats. Sarita Arya, state president of Mahila Congress who joined the BJP, clinched the ticket from Nainital seat. BJP aspirants have raised their voice against the party decision. Some aspirants may file nomination as independents from the seat.
In Bhimtal, BJP workers have raised voice against party ticket to sitting MLA Ram Singh Kaira. Kaira won 2017 election as an independent and later joined the BJP. After the BJP fielded him from Bhimtal, several party workers have threatened to resign in protest.
Kailash Bhatt, district vicepresident of BJP, alleged that the party ignored him and issued ticket to Anil Shahi for Dwarahat. He said he will contest the election as an independent candidate. The BJP has fielded Dhan Singh Dhami from Dharchula seat. Around 10 workers, including ticket aspirants, have left the party against the party’s decision.
The Sitting MLA from Tharali, Munni Devi Shah, who was denied ticket, said, “The central party leadership must explain why it has denied a ticket to me. I have done considerable development work in my constituency besides taking the achievements of the central and state governments to the people.”
She said she would not be as hurt if the party had fielded a dedicated party worker from the seat but it preferred someone from Congress background.
“It has broken the morale of party workers,” Shah, who won the seat in a bypoll in 2018 following the death of her husband and sitting MLA from the seat Magan Lal Shah, said.
She said she is under pressure from her supporters and may enter the fray as an independent from the seat from where the BJP has fielded Bhopal Ram Tamta, a Congress defector.
Om Gopal Rawat, who was a strong ticket contender for Narendra Nagar seat from where the BJP has once again fielded cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal, is planning to join the Congress.
“BJP does not care for dedicated party workers who toil at the grassroots to strengthen the organisation. It has no principles or values. All it wants is power,” Rawat said.
Former MLA Mahavir Rangad too is unhappy with Pritam Singh Panwar fielded by BJP from Dhanaulti.
He took the opinion of party workers on Friday and said he will contest as an independent.
Contender from Ghansali, Darshan Lal has also decided to enter poll fray as an independent. Tika Maikhuri, who had long been trying for a ticket from Karnaprayag, has also threatened to enter the poll arena as an independent since the party fielded Anil Nautiyal from the seat.
Aware of the mood within the party, the BJP says the discontent is only natural and the bitterness will subside in a couple of days.
“There can be many contenders for a ticket from a seat but it can be given only to one after taking into account all aspects. Everyone should accept the decision of the central leadership,” BJP president Madan Kaushik said. “BJP is a disciplined party. It is just their initial reaction. I have confidence that they will understand,” he said.
The party has begun efforts to pacify disaffected leaders with promises of position within the organisation, fearing eclipsing of chances of official BJP nominees if they enter the poll arena.