The Hindu : Rebels making it tough for BJP, Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004

Other States

Other States - Rajasthan

Rebels making it tough for BJP, Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, MARCH 31. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are facing opposition from their local workers in the choice of official nominees in various Lok Sabha constituencies in Rajasthan. There is resentment in party ranks over the nominations in at least half a dozen seats in the case of both the BJP and the Congress.

While the other day the district town of Alwar witnessed protests by the BJP workers over the nomination of Mahant Chandnath, today it was the turn of the leaders of the Congress from Pali to take umbrage at the selection of Surendra Surana as the party nominee for Pali seat.

In Alwar the protesters, reportedly supporters of the outgoing BJP MP, Jaswant Yadav, burnt the effigies of party leaders. Mahant Chandnath, spiritual leader of Yadavas is not a party man or a local. A former Minister and associate member of the All India Congress Committee, Madho Singh Dewan and Bheemraj Bhati, a former MLA and general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee, today quit their organisational posts protesting against the selection of Mr. Surana.

In separate letters to the PCC president, Narain Singh, the leaders accused Mr. Surana of indulging in anti-party activities during the recent Assembly elections in the State. Mr. Bhati, who had unsuccessfully fought the by-election from Bali, the seat vacated by the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, in 2002 held Mr. Surana responsible for his defeat there.

"For the past two years Mr. Surana has been creating fissures within the Congress in Pali. What could have been your compulsions in nominating such a person?'' Mr. Bhati sought to know in his resignation letter. Mr. Dewan in his letter explained that he did not want to campaign for Mr. Surana in the elections and this was prompting him to resign from his organisational responsibility.

There have been protests from the party workers over the choice of Congress nominees in Jaipur, Jalore, Churu, Bhilwara and Jhalawar even as the partymen here await the names for the remaining three constituencies -- Ajmer, Jodhpur and Bharatpur. There are some talks here about the party replacing the nominee for Jhalawar -- Sanjay Gujjar -- to fight Dushyant Singh, the son of the Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje. The candidate for only one seat -- Dausa, where Sachin Pilot is the Congress nominee -- has yet to named by the BJP.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Women find little space in Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan

Rebels making it tough for BJP, Congress