Hours after a video went viral on social media where Congress leader Mahendra Verma was seen ranting at his senior party leader Digvijaya Singh over ticket distribution process in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the former said that he was unhappy as a ticket had been given to a candidate from Vidisha who had lost in the last three elections.
"I was disappointed with Digvijaya Singh as a ticket was given to a candidate from Vidisha, who had lost in the last three elections. This was my complaint. We had even told him that give us the tickets, we are ready to contest in the polls," he told ANI.
Further defending his heated argument with the senior Congress leader, Verma asserted that he became emotional.
"I wanted to meet Digvijaya Singh. I became emotional as I ranted at him. I don't remember now what I had said. He (Digvijaya) kept his hands on my head and shoulders and listened to me calmly. I would say that he understood my pain and he saved the party workers from defecting," he added.
In the video dated November 6, Verma can be seen lashing out at the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister over the ticket distribution process.
"You had called me to Delhi and asked me to start preparing. I did all the preparations, but you gave a ticket to Sakaal. You gave a ticket to Narayan Singh. I rolled out the 'Digvijaya Singh Yatra' for you. I travelled to 101 villages. We are in a position to consume poison. You are distributing tickets to everyone like bullets and biscuits, but you didn't come to this poor's place since I am from the Kayastha community. Entire Bhopal is filled up with Kayastha community, including Vidisha. Don't do injustice, I don't want to disrespect your orders and I don't want to join any other party," he was heard saying.
Digvijaya could be seen asking a visibly-upset Verma to look at a phone and narrate his ordeal, where the entire incident was being filmed by some people.
Madhya Pradesh is slated to go to polls on November 28 for 230 constituencies. Counting of votes will take place on December 11.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)