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Raje keeps scribes on their toes
It was one day the BJP leaders wouldn?t let the scribes go, not even for the sweets and snacks kept in the verandah. BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar was seen shouting at workers to close the main doors of the hall at the BJP headquarters here on Wednesday.
It was one day the BJP leaders wouldn’t let the scribes go, not even for the sweets and snacks kept in the verandah. BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar was seen shouting at workers to close the main doors of the hall at the BJP headquarters here on Wednesday.
Rajasthan BJP chief Vasundhara Raje was facing one TV crew after another. Senior BJP leader Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi seemed to run short of people to talk to. Questions were getting repetitive but nobody would leave the hall.
Waiting outside was a crowd of people shouting slogans like "Down with Vasundhara, Down with BJP", and vowing to teach a lesson to the Sangh Parivar. At any other place, they could have been the Congress henchmen. But inside the highly secure premises of BJP headquarters, there was no mistaking their identity.
They were loyal BJP followers, who had just got hold of the list of candidates, released by party leaders at a press conference inside. Before it was over, there were slogans coming from outside.
Known to be always smarter than others, BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan left the hall, jumped into his car and sped off, before the protesters could react further. BJP national treasurer Ramdas Agrawal sneaked away without being noticed. But for the rest of the flushed faces, it was an exercise in giving the best possible smile. The slogans were first started by the supporters of Amar Singh Midda, who was seeking ticket from Suratgarh but was overlooked in favour of Ashok Nagpal. They were joined by the supporters of Subhnarayan Naik from Kesarisingpur. And as it seemed, the entire crowd had joined them.
One of them was Narpat Singh from Kota, who had stopped wearing the shoes about a month back until the BJP won the elections.
"I am not here to seek any ticket or support any candidate. But they have given tickets to those who have lost in two consecutive elections. This is all because of Sangh Parivar’s pressure," he said.
