Rebellion in BJP over bypoll tickets in 4 seats

Jaipur: State BJP is in damage control mode, dispatching ministers on private jets and issuing both promises and warnings to rebels, following the announcement of its candidates for six of the seven bypoll-bound assembly seats. The ticket distribution has triggered a wave of unrest, with open rebellion breaking out in four constituencies—Salumber, Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh and Deoli Uniara.
In Jhunjhunu, a section of BJP party workers are demanding that the nomination of Rajendra Bhambu be withdrawn and replaced with that of Bablu Choudhary, who was the party candidate in the 2023 assembly elections. Choudhary, showing signs of rebellion, held a meeting at his residence and and announced on social about filing his nomination as an independent candidate on Oct 23.
BJP has tasked assembly in-charges with the difficult responsibility of quelling the unrest. Avinash Gehlot and Sumit Godara have been dispatched to Jhunjhunu to persuade Choudhary to reconsider his decision.
Salumber is another flashpoint, where rebel leader Narendra Meena has publicly opposed BJP's choice of Shanta Devi, wife of late MLA Amritlal Meena, as the candidate. Meena, who hoped for a ticket after 20 years of party loyalty, broke down in front of his supporters on Sunday. His video went viral in the constituency, which prompted the BJP to fly Meena to Jaipur on a chartered plane to negotiate with him, hoping to convince him to withdraw his candidacy on Monday. MLA Nimbahera Srichand Kriplani was tasked to bring Meena to Jaipur.
"He (Meena) held a meeting with CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and was given assurances of a better future in the party," said a party source, adding that Meena remains firm in his stance, stating he will decide his next move based on the wishes of his supporters.
Similar discontent has emerged in Deoli Uniara, where Gujjar religious leaders have written to the BJP leadership, urging the re-nomination of Vijay Bainsla, who had lost to Congress candidate in the last assembly polls. Despite these challenges, cabinet minister Jhabar Singh Kharra expressed confidence in the party's ability to overcome the dissent and emerge victorious.
He said, "We have declared candidates on six seats."