RSS-BJP face-off over candidate list

THE RASHTRIYA Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has virtually decided its candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is opposing some names. Moreover, the final nod to the proposed list will be given after the conclusion of the Sangh?s Guru Dakshina programme.

THE RASHTRIYA Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has virtually decided its candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

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However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is opposing some names. Moreover, the final nod to the proposed list will be given after the conclusion of the Sangh’s Guru Dakshina programme.

Sitting MLA from the Kalyanpur constituency and former Cabinet minister Premlata Katiyar has shown her disinterest in contesting the elections. She wants her daughter Neelima Katiyar, who is a State working committee member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, to be nominated from the constituency.

According to sources, apart from Cantonment, this was the other constituency where voice of dissent in the BJP could not be heard till date.

In the Govind Nagar constituency, the RSS think-tank is in favour of Kaushal Kishore Dixit, ex-president of the south city unit. But, a group of the BJP leaders are in favour of Virendra Dubey.

According to them, he has a good clout in the constituency both in terms of money and muscle power, and his nomination can affect few neighbouring constituencies. The Sangh was in favour of fielding Rabindra Patni from the Aryanagar constituency. But, a group of BJP leaders, led by Satyadeo Pachauri, is backing Diwakar Mishra. Another group, enjoying the support of district president of north city, is backing Anoop Awasthi.

Strangely, there is no opposition in the Cantonment constituency either from RSS or from BJP leaders on the name of Satish Mahana, the sitting MLA from the constituency.

At General Ganj, the RSS is in favour of Salil Bishnoi, but BJP leaders are putting their weight behind Shyam Babu Gupta.