Internal feud erupts in BJP state unit
Congress terms the infighting an indirect admission of defeat by the BJP candidates in assembly elections
DEHRADUN/HARIDWAR: The BJP state leadership on Wednesday launched a damage control operation a day after three MLAs accused some leaders, including state president Madan Kaushik, of conspiring to ensure defeat of a few party candidates in the just concluded assembly election.
In contrast, Congress camp, which the BJP has always accused of being a divided house ridden with factionalism, is on celebratory mood and claiming poll victory.
BJP MLA from Haridwar Sanjay Gupta opened a front against party state president Kaushik, alleging that he conspired to ensure his defeat in the February 14 election. Two other BJP MLAs – one from US Nagar and another from Champawat – on Tuesday accused local party leaders of betraying them in the just concluded assembly election.
“BJP local leaders are responsible for less polling in
Kashipur. They neither conducted canvassing for the party candidate nor encouraged voters to cast their votes,” Harbhajan Singh Cheema, sitting BJP MLA from Kashipur assembly segment in US Nahar, said at a press conference. The BJP has fielded Cheema’s son Trilok Singh Cheema from Kashipur.
Kailash Gahtori, a sitting BJP MLA from Champawat seat, also alleged that some local BJP leaders worked for the Congress.
Kuldeep Kumar, BJP state general secretary, said the party has taken the matter seriously. “We are looking into the media statements made by three MLAs after which we will talk to them. We have a system in the party. If some leader has to make a complaint regarding state president, he or she can raise the issue before party state in charge or national leadership. And they have to raise the issue in the party forum and not in the media,” he said.
The Congress termed the developments as an indirect admission by BJP candidates of poll defeat.
Mathura Dutt Joshi, state Congress general secretary, said when three BJP MLAs indirectly admitted that they were losing polls, it makes clear that BJP candidates have realised that they are losing the election.
“We have been saying it for last six months that the BJP leadership is in disarray in the state. They had to change three CMs due to this and now their own leaders are levelling serious allegations against the party leaders. We have no doubt now that Congress is coming to power and the same is getting confirmed by these developments within the BJP”, he said
Garima Dasauni, Congress state spokesperson, said there were a dozen candidates in the BJP who are enraged on how party leaders behaved with them during the election. “Many of them were left on their own and now they are angry. Some have come out and more will come out in the coming days,” she said.
BJP MLA Gupta again trained his guns on Kaushik on Wednesday demanding a probe into his property and income. “How come a party worker, who was working as a dairy small-scale trader, has now crores of worth property in just 20 years since he first became legislator in 2002... A financial probe as well as internal party probe regarding allegations on Kaushik for having nexus with rival political candidates affecting the party’s election scenario should also be done,” said Gupta.
Despite repeated attempts, the BJP state president couldn’t be contacted for his reaction.
Responding to this, BJP district general secretary Vikas Tiwari said without any evidence such baseless allegations won’t do any good but only hurt the image of the party.
BJP vice president Devendra Bhasin said the party has taken these allegations seriously and it was talking to them.
Following the allegations by Gupta of certain leaders indulging in anti-party activities during the election, the BJP on Wednesday expelled four leaders from primary membership for six years.
Among expelled leaders include a nominated ward councillor from Laksar municipal committee and the husband of another ward councillor.
Haridwar district BJP president Jaypal Singh Chauhan said taking cognisance of the complaint made by Gupta four party members have been expelled for six years for prima facie working against party official candidate during election campaign.
“Former district media in charge Rajendra Nath, nominated ward councillor Bhupendra Nigam, Kuldeep Singh, the husband of ward councillor Neetu Devi and former Laksar division president Rahul Aggarwal have been expelled for six years from primary membership with immediate effect,” said Chauhan.
THE BJP EXPELLED 4 LEADERS FROM MEMBERSHIP FOR SIX YEARS FOR WORKING AGAINST PARTY CANDIDATE