Protest in BJP over ticket distribution in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Dissatisfied over the selection of candidates, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh is facing revolt from its rank and file in at alteast a dozen constituencies even as a group of people have staged a demonstration in front of "Ekatma Parisar", the state BJP headquarters here, raising slogans against party leaders.
Announcing its first list of 78 candidates, the ruling BJP has fielded again a large number of sitting legislators and ministers— denying ticket to one low profile, non-controversial woman minister.BJP workers have virtually revolved against the BJP’s official nominee at Patan, Ambikapur, Keshkal, Dantewada, Raigarh, Bhatgaon, Khallari, Bindranavagarh, Raipur North and Mahasamund and Dondolohara constituencies, demanding change in the candidates.
State BJP president Dharamlal Kaushik, however, asserted that the decision about the candidates was taken by the central leadership and there is no scope whatsoever for changing or replacing any candidates. "It’s not a revolt. BJP is a mass-based party where there are many aspirants. But only one person can get ticket from one constituency," he added.
Women and child development minister Ramshila Sahu, who has been denied ticket from Durg Rural constituency, broke down in full public glare and told her supporters that she is hopeful that party would re-consider its decision. Her supporters raised slogans against BJP giving ticket to a former Congress leader Jageshwar Sahu from her constituency and they also raised slogans against BJP national general secretary and Rajya sabha member Saroj Pandey, accusing her of being instrumental in denying ticket to the woman minister. Minister’s supporters also reached the state BJP headquarters on Sunday and raised slogans against state’s top leadership.
Protesting against BJP giving ticket to Motilal Sahu to take on state Congress president Bhupesh Baghel from Patan constituency, BJP workers went berserk in front of state BJP headquarters and ghearoed state party organising secretary Pawan Sai, accusing that the party leadership had foisted an outsider from Patan constituency. In Mahasamund constituency, BJP did not name anyone but supporters of former minister Poonam Chandarkar smelt a rat that the BJP is planning to induct sitting independent MLA Dr Vimal Chopra into the party fold and to field him as the party candidate. BJP workers have come out on streets against the move.
Trouble is also brewing in the state capital, with the Sindhi community members coming out in open against the move to deny ticket to sitting BJP legislator Srichand Sunderani. Top leaders of Sindhi community held an emergency meeting late Sunday night and later asserted that the BJP leadership should not take the community for granted as its vote bank. In Dantewada (ST) constituency, a revolt is brewing against fielding former legislator Bhima Mandavi and a local BJP leader Cahitram Atami has indicated that he would jump into the fray as a rebel candidate.
In Dondolohara, BJP has fielded Mahendra Singh Tekkam but local BJP leaders have demanded his replacement. An unnamed video, purportedly showing this BJP candidate in an inebriated condition, has also gone viral on the social media but its authenticity could not be independently ascertained so far.
In Ambikapur, BJP has fielded Anurag Singhdeo again to take on senior Congress leader T S Singhdeo, who is also the leader of the opposition in the assembly. Other party workers had a meeting at Ambikapur and demanded replacement of Anurag Singhdeo, pointing out that he had lost twice from the same constituency. Besides, there is also resentment in a couple of other constituency, including in Korba, where the BJP has fielded Vikas Mahto, a contractor, and son of BJP Member of Parliament bansilal Mehto.
In Raigarh, a group of party workers, including six municipal corporators, have announced to quit the party protesting against re-nomination of Roshanlal as BJP candidate. Supporters of Vijay Agrawal are demanding ticket for their leader.
After its 15 year rule, BJP government is apparently facing a strong anti-incumbency and a tri-angular contest due to which the ruling party fell back on its “tested” candidates –including sitting legislators and former legislators, who had lost the 2013 elections. However, the BJP has denied tickets to 14 sitting legislators—mostly its low profile legislators.