JAIPUR: Infighting in BJP over the distribution of tickets for municipal polls have come out in the open. The issue of denying tickets to candidates recommended by local BJP MLAs such as Kali Charan Saraf, Ashok Lahoti and Narpat Singh Rajvi and former MLA Rajpal Singh Shekhawat have created a rift in the state unit.
Saraf had been enjoying a say in distribution of tickets in all municipal wards falling in his constituency for the past 15 years. This time however, half the candidates recommended by him have been dropped by the party state president.
“Saraf is the tallest BJP leader from Jaipur at present. He is known for distributing tickets to candidates of his choice not only in his constituency but had the capability to grant tickets in other constituencies. This is probably the first time that his recommendations were turned down by the party aggressively,” said a BJP leader, who is closely following the developments related to municipal polls.
Similarly, recommendations of Rajvi, Lahoti and Shekhawat was refused by the party chief to accommodate other candidates. The snubbing has not gone down well with these leaders who have started complaining about the authoritative behaviour of Poonia.
Saraf won the Malaviya Nagar seat by less than 2,000 votes against Congress candidate Archana Sharma. “Corporators hold key for any MLA. Since Saraf is on a sticky wicket due to 15 years of anti-incumbency, he recommended one name against 2-3 names sought by the party chief for every ward. The ward counsellors double up as party informers and feedback givers for their constituency MLA. These leaders fear that counsellor who was not picked by them might not help them in seeking tickets and mobilising voters,” said a party source.
Upbeat over the praise received from PM Narendra Modi over his relief work during lockdown, Poonia by doing so gave a message to the party leaders that their existence is due to the party and not otherwise. His team, however, said rejections were made due to several reasons.
“The RSS backed recommendations have been given the high priority over the MLAs list. The remaining rejections were purely on the basis of the recommended winnability,” said a BJP leader close to Poonia.