Bihar: Ticket seekers continue to throng party offices

PATNA: Even as political parties have already started releasing names of their candidates phase wise, many ticket aspirants can still be seen making rounds of the party offices to convince their leaders.
Offices of all the three major parties – JD(U), BJP and RJD – on Beerchand Patel Marg have been witnessing huge crowd of ticket seekers and their supporters. Workers come with bio-data and portfolios and spend the whole day in party offices, if necessary, to meet senior leaders. Every time, they see an SUV with party flags, the ticket seekers crowd it along with their supporters.
Few candidates are also seen revolting at party offices after denial of tickets. At the BJP office, one Tarkeshwar Singh staged protest along with his supporters on Thursday after his ticket was given to the VIP, which recently joined the NDA.
Tarkeshwar said he was supposed to get ticket to contest from Baniapur assembly constituency in Saran district. “I was denied ticket at the last minute as part of a conspiracy,” he added.
Gyanendra Kumar Sharma (49), who wants to contest from any constituency in Sitamarhi, said, “I have done a lot for farmers in Belsand and Riga. I have been working hard for over years to gain the trust of people in those constituencies. I’m now waiting for an opportunity to meet the right person in BJP to get the ticket,” he said.
Similarly, people are making a beeline for RJD office in the hope of meeting senior leaders. Raman Singh Yadav, who wanted to contest from Amarpur in Banka, said, “I had submitted my bio-data at the office and tried to meet Tejaswhiji, but in vain. The seat was given to the Congress,” he said.
Bhola Singh (43), another ticket aspirant, was seen sitting at the RJD office with his supporters with files in his hand. “I am keen to contest from Katoria in Bhagalpur,” he said.
At JD(U) office too, ticket aspirants were seen sitting in groups with their supporters.
Even the Congress office at Sadaquat Ashram and LJP office near Patna airport are buzzing with activities.
“Now that the party has parted ways with NDA, I am hopeful of getting ticket. I have been supporting the LJP for more than five years and want to contest from Pipra constituency,” said Narendra Singh (37), who hails from Supaul.