BHOPAL: Stunned by a major setback on losing two MLAs to Congress, the state BJP is upset overcrossing voting by Narayan Tripathi (Maihar) and Shyam Kol (Beohari) for supporting the Congress government during the division of votes for IPC (Amendment) Bill in the house, on Wednesday.
The switchover has exposed fissures in the saffron party with the two dissident MLAs alleging that they were ignored and not given due respect by the party leaders during their long tenure in the BJP. The two BJP MLAs said that outsiders were never welcomed supported in the saffron party.
"I have been in the BJP for the last five years but not given due respect by the party leaders. Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan made tall promises in my constituency during public meetings but, none of the promises was fulfilled. Congress is my old home and this is my ghar vapsi. I am not concerned about my resignation or by-poll on my seat", Tripathi told reporters outside the House.
Sources in BJP disclosed that Tripathi had differences with BJP MP from Satna, Ganesh Singh since he joined the saffron party. During recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, videos of the two leaders were criticising each other on local matters went viral on social media. Tripathi was a Samajwadi Party MLA in 2003 who lost 2008 assembly poll and joined Congress to win 2013 assembly election from Maihar in Satna district. In 2014, Tripathi quit Congress to join BJP and later won the by-poll from Maihar. In 2018, he was re-elected from the seat as BJP contestant.
Sharad Kol was youngest BJP MLA from Beohari tribal seat in Shahdol district. The area is a Congress bastion turned saffron after Kol defeated Congress candidate Rampal Singh in 2018. After the switch over, he said, "I have no grudges against any leader but I was feeling neglected in the BJP. After this decision, I feel returning back to my home".
The BJP national leadership has taken serious note of the political developments in the party's heartland where poor management by the state organisation has lost two MLAs to Congress. The BJP leadership has also been told about differences between senior leaders including former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Gopal Bhargava and Narottam Mishra, said sources in the party.
"Bhargava was unhappy over Chouhan's overplay during assembly session and public gatherings. He has already been in limelight through media and newspapers for his own cause. Bhargava was also feeling detached from the public due to the active role of Narottam Mishra in the state capital", said a senior state BJP functionary.
It was also stated that Mishra and Bhargava opposed Chouhan focusing MP even after the party had assigned him the duty for membership drive as national convener. The anti-incumbency factor is still affecting BJP's clout in several districts, said sources. After House adjourned on Wednesday, a large number of BJP MLAs reached Chouhan's residence to complain against Bhargava.
Upset by Congress' active role in luring two party MLAs, the BJP leadership has also hinted at a major attempt to disturb the Congress government. After failing in the floor test, Mishra said, "Congress has begun the game, we will bring it to an end".
Sources in BJP disclosed that the saffron party has invited a few Congress MLAs of Chambal region for further action in the regard. Speculations were rife that few disgruntled MLAs, who have not been given a cabinet berth in Congress government, are in touch with a former BJP minister in Gwalior-Chambal region. Even after the defection, the BJP has not suspended or expelled the two MLAs from the party. When contacted, BJP state chief Rakesh Singh did not respond.
Earlier during the day, LoP Bhargava had stated that the situation of MP government was much worse than that of Karnataka. But, hours later, he was seen baffled by the decision taken by his own party MLAs. Bhargava has also questioned the longevity of the Congress saying, "We will perform the last rites of the Congress government". Chief Minister Kamal Nath had reacted saying, “ "None of the MLAs sitting here is for sale. Kamal Nath's government will run for five years in full force."
Bhargava and Shivraj Singh indeed did not expect a return from the chief minister in this way.
The switchover has exposed fissures in the saffron party with the two dissident MLAs alleging that they were ignored and not given due respect by the party leaders during their long tenure in the BJP. The two BJP MLAs said that outsiders were never welcomed supported in the saffron party.
"I have been in the BJP for the last five years but not given due respect by the party leaders. Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan made tall promises in my constituency during public meetings but, none of the promises was fulfilled. Congress is my old home and this is my ghar vapsi. I am not concerned about my resignation or by-poll on my seat", Tripathi told reporters outside the House.
Sources in BJP disclosed that Tripathi had differences with BJP MP from Satna, Ganesh Singh since he joined the saffron party. During recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, videos of the two leaders were criticising each other on local matters went viral on social media. Tripathi was a Samajwadi Party MLA in 2003 who lost 2008 assembly poll and joined Congress to win 2013 assembly election from Maihar in Satna district. In 2014, Tripathi quit Congress to join BJP and later won the by-poll from Maihar. In 2018, he was re-elected from the seat as BJP contestant.
Sharad Kol was youngest BJP MLA from Beohari tribal seat in Shahdol district. The area is a Congress bastion turned saffron after Kol defeated Congress candidate Rampal Singh in 2018. After the switch over, he said, "I have no grudges against any leader but I was feeling neglected in the BJP. After this decision, I feel returning back to my home".
The BJP national leadership has taken serious note of the political developments in the party's heartland where poor management by the state organisation has lost two MLAs to Congress. The BJP leadership has also been told about differences between senior leaders including former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Gopal Bhargava and Narottam Mishra, said sources in the party.
"Bhargava was unhappy over Chouhan's overplay during assembly session and public gatherings. He has already been in limelight through media and newspapers for his own cause. Bhargava was also feeling detached from the public due to the active role of Narottam Mishra in the state capital", said a senior state BJP functionary.
It was also stated that Mishra and Bhargava opposed Chouhan focusing MP even after the party had assigned him the duty for membership drive as national convener. The anti-incumbency factor is still affecting BJP's clout in several districts, said sources. After House adjourned on Wednesday, a large number of BJP MLAs reached Chouhan's residence to complain against Bhargava.
Upset by Congress' active role in luring two party MLAs, the BJP leadership has also hinted at a major attempt to disturb the Congress government. After failing in the floor test, Mishra said, "Congress has begun the game, we will bring it to an end".
Sources in BJP disclosed that the saffron party has invited a few Congress MLAs of Chambal region for further action in the regard. Speculations were rife that few disgruntled MLAs, who have not been given a cabinet berth in Congress government, are in touch with a former BJP minister in Gwalior-Chambal region. Even after the defection, the BJP has not suspended or expelled the two MLAs from the party. When contacted, BJP state chief Rakesh Singh did not respond.
Earlier during the day, LoP Bhargava had stated that the situation of MP government was much worse than that of Karnataka. But, hours later, he was seen baffled by the decision taken by his own party MLAs. Bhargava has also questioned the longevity of the Congress saying, "We will perform the last rites of the Congress government". Chief Minister Kamal Nath had reacted saying, “ "None of the MLAs sitting here is for sale. Kamal Nath's government will run for five years in full force."
Bhargava and Shivraj Singh indeed did not expect a return from the chief minister in this way.
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