Dehradun. Not being given tickets has created a sense of discontent among the strong contenders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and many of them have started preparations to either switch to other parties or go to the polls as independent candidates. The party in its first list of 59 candidates has given preference to Congress defectors over dedicated party cadre in several seats, while many who were denied tickets have come out in open with their hurt feelings.
Of these, the biggest names are Munni Devi Shah, sitting MLA from Tharali and Mahesh Negi, MLA from Dwarahat. Shah said, “The central leadership of the party should explain why I was not given the ticket. I have done remarkable development work in my constituency along with taking the achievements of the central and state government to the people. He said that he would not have hurt if the party gave ticket to a dedicated party worker from the seat in his place but preferred a candidate with Congress background. Shah, who won the by-election from this seat in 2018 after the death of her husband Magan Lal Shah, said, “This has broken the morale of the party workers.”
He said that his supporters are pressurizing him to contest as an independent candidate from the seat where the BJP has fielded Bhopal Ram Tamta, who left the Congress and joined the party. Negi, an accused in a rape case in September 2020, said he was not given a ticket as part of the conspiracy. He said that his name topped in all the organizational surveys yet he was not given a ticket. Om Gopal Rawat, who is considered a strong contender for the ticket from Narendra Nagar seat, is planning to join the Congress. BJP has once again fielded cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal from this seat.
Rawat said, “BJP does not care about dedicated party workers who work hard at the grassroots level to strengthen the organisation. It has no principles or values. It just wants power.” Former MLA Mahavir Rangad is also unhappy with the BJP fielding Pritam Singh Pawar from Dhanaulti.
He took the opinion of party workers on Friday and said that he will contest the elections as an independent candidate. The candidate from Ghansali, Darshan Lal has also decided to enter the fray as an independent candidate. Tika Maikhuri, who is trying to get ticket from Karnprayag, has also threatened to contest as an independent candidate as the party has fielded Anil Nautiyal from the seat. In Bhimtal, Manoj Shah has threatened to quit the party as the party has fielded sitting independent MLA Ram Singh Kaira from the seat who had joined the BJP late last year.
He said, “I am in the race for ticket from seat since 2002. It is unfair not to give me a ticket. I will fight as an independent.” Sensing the mood within the party, the BJP said that discontent was natural and this bitterness would end in a few days. BJP state president Madan Kaushik said, “There can be many contenders for a ticket from one seat but it can be given to one only after keeping all the aspects in mind. The decision of the central leadership should be accepted by all.” He said, “BJP is a disciplined party. This is his initial reaction. I am sure they will understand.”