Patiala: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) old guard in Patiala, who earlier raised their voice over being ignored in distribution of tickets, have been adjusted this time with nine party workers and leaders getting the ticket for municipal corporation elections on Dec 21.
A few party veterans are still upset, alleging they were not consulted during the distribution of party tickets. They claimed that instead of the party’s old and senior leadership, control remained in the hands of “a single family of defectors”.
Bhupesh Aggarwal, BJP’s state spokesperson in Patiala, emphasised the sentiment in old cadres. “We were unaware of the allotment of party tickets. We were not even consulted. Senior leadership in the party has been feeling ignored as a group of defectors, who were earlier in Congress, have overpowered everyone,” he said.
BJP Patiala president Vijay Kumar Kuka ruled out the allegations. He claimed that out of 60 wards, nine party tickets were given to old party workers who applied for tickets.
Earlier, during parliamentary polls, the party’s old leadership objected to former CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s wife, Preneet Kaur, being fielded from Patiala. Though there was an initial rebellion to her candidature, party functionaries later followed directions from the party high command.