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Tharali bypoll: Rebellion in BJP as ticket may go to ex-MLA’s widow
With just two days left for filling nomination for bypoll in Tharali, the BJP has hinted that it might give ticket to Munni Devi, the wife of late legislator Maganlal Shah. It prompted Guddu Lal, who joined the saffron party last month, to contest the bypoll as an Independent candidate.
With just two days left for filling nomination for bypoll in Tharali, the BJP has hinted that it might give ticket to Munni Devi, the wife of late legislator Maganlal Shah.
It prompted Guddu Lal, who joined the saffron party last month, to contest the bypoll as an Independent candidate.
BJP state unit president Ajay Bhatt met Guddu on Sunday night and hinted that “even if the party loses one seat, it won’t harm their majority in the state”.
The reaction came after Guddu claimed BJP nomination to contest the bypoll saying he received over 8,000 votes as an Independent candidate in the 2017 assembly polls.
“The party has given clear signal that they have decided to give the ticket to one of their candidates and not to me. I will contest the bypoll as Independent,” said Guddu.
The Congress has already nominated Jeet Ram as its candidate for the bypoll. Ram was defeated in the last assembly polls by Shah with a margin of 4,921 votes.
The Congress since then has been attacking the BJP claiming holes in the ruling party because of which they have not announced the candidate.
The ruling party has majority in the state assembly with 56 members (after demise of Shah). It has left the decision on the high command.
BJP state chief Bhatt said: “He (Guddu) has freedom to contest election. We have submitted our report to the central leadership and they will decide the name of the candidate. It’s not on us anymore.”
Though party leaders do not see Munni Devi as potential leader.
“The party feels Munni Devi has sympathy vote as she is widow of our former legislator. Giving ticket to someone else would be like giving chance to opposition to cut our votes,” a senior BJP leader said requesting anonymity.
The BJP also approached the election commission seeking information whether or not candidates have to submit symbol along with nomination or not. “It was mere information that we sought,” Bhatt said.
On Rudrapur MLA Rajkumar Thukral, who was accused of threatening employees at a toll plaza in Kiccha, Bhatt said no FIR was registered against the MLA and therefore, it does not call for any action against him.
Bhatt elaborated how the legislator was upset because of the suspension of road works and the private company had also started taking toll from vehicles.
“The people of the area, in fact, appreciated him (Thukral) for meddling with the toll plaza people as they did not complete road construction and start charging toll from people,” Bhatt said.
