Facing revolt in Udhampur assembly constituency following the denial of party ticket to potential candidates, the BJP suffered a jolt on Monday when party state secretary and senior leader Pawn Kumar Gupta deserted the party and decided to contest as an independent from the Udhampur seat.
Announcing his decision before media here, Gupta said that he had been a victim of a conspiracy hatched by those sitting at the state BJP office. He said the process of selection of candidates adopted by the party was faulty and those who sacrificed for party years altogether and had potential to win were not given mandate by the party. He alleged that state party president Jugal Kishore Sharma has nexus with the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) to weaken the BJP. He added that under a plan a weak candidate Pawan Khajuria was given ticket to ensure the win of JKNPP candidate in Udhampur.
He added that party has dropped several strong and dedicated leaders ignoring the popular sentiment which is undemocratic.
He said he had been forced to enter the fray as an independent as majority of the electorate are upset over the denial of BJP ticket to him.
{{/usCountry}}He said he had been forced to enter the fray as an independent as majority of the electorate are upset over the denial of BJP ticket to him.
{{/usCountry}}Gupta alleged that party backstabbed him and befooled thousands of people of the constituency by denying mandate to him.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Pawan Gupta supporters protested against the denial of BJP ticket to him on Monday.