By LS Herdenia
BHOPAL: It is an uphill task to select candidates for the elections. The parties, particularly BJP and Congress, are finding it extremely difficult to handle the problem. For BJP it is much more arduous to select proper candidates with reports that the ruling party may replace a large number of sitting MLA. These reports have created an almost rebellion like situation in some pockets.
The situation is so grave that the BJP had to seek police help in controlling large numbers of ticket seekers. A huge police force has been deputed outside the BJP office from 23rd October to deal with ticket seekers for the upcoming assembly elections. A large number of ticket seekers turned up at the BJP office on 22nd October.
The followers of Devendra Pratap, son of Vijendra Singh Sisodia and who looking after coordination at the BJP office, had created ruckus at the BJP office. Traffic jams were witnessed on the road outside due to netas displaying their might. Police did not allow the mob to enter the BJP office. Only those who were not in groups were allowed inside. BJP state president Rakesh Singh, defending the decision, said there was no prohibition on the entry of BJP workers in the BJP office.
As the dates for submitting nomination are nearing, the ticket seekers and sitting MLAs are nervous. They have also begun visiting the BJP office in Bhopal. The sitting MLAs intend to get ticket this time too while there are many who are visiting the BJP office to ensure that some sitting MLAs do not get ticket.
With the strong possibility of dropping a significant number of sitting MLAs, a trend the party has already followed in deciding candidates for Chhattisgarh, BJP will finalise candidates for assembly polls by November first week.
Senior party leaders say they are confident of retaining power in three states and gaining majority in Mizoram. Party sources said the Central Election Committee (CEC) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah will finalise most of the candidates on November 1 or 2. Meanwhile, the initial exercise of finalising potential candidates has been completed.
The party released the first list of 78 candidates for Chhattisgarh last Saturday, in which 14 sitting MLAs, including a minister, were denied tickets. Sources confirmed that three more will be replaced in the next list. In MP the replacement rate could be higher, say sources.
Sources said party leaders are confident of returning to power in Madhya Pradesh even as it has been ruling the two states for three consecutive terms but there were issues in Rajasthan where party workers were not happy with the state leadership.
There are broad indications that if the leadership does not succeed in handling the complex situation it might seek the help of the RSS, which created the problem when it asked the party to replace 78 sitting MLAs. If such a large number of sitting MLAs are replaced then it may cause a revolt-like situation.
Besides selection of candidates, BJP is facing another difficulty caused by a powerful section of sadhus and sants. Namdev Tyagi, known as Computer Baba, who resigned recently from his ministerial post granted to him by the state government, has launched “Man Ki Baat’ a sants conference in Indore. The conference was being organised against the policies of the government, sources said.
Tyagi’s key concern is the threat to Narmada, cows, delay in construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and the government’s indifference towards sants, who have been demanding conservation of holy rivers like Ganges. Through this conference, Computer Baba wants to bring the sants and priests together to press the government to make amendments in their policies so that culture, environment and rivers could be conserved and enriched.
Expressing his anguish over the way the Centre and state governments allowed Professor GD Agarwanl (Swami Sanand) to die during his 110-day long fast to save Ganga, he said the governments seem not to have any concern for the real issues of water and pollution being raised by citizens like Professor Agarwal. Similar conferences will be organised in Gwalior on October 30, in Khandwa on November 4, in Rewa on November 11 and on November 23 in Jabalpur.
The Congress list of probable candidates is being finalised in Delhi. Most of the aspirants are camping in New Delhi. Meanwhile Jitu Patwari, a senior Congress leader and a sitting MLA, has caused an embarrassing situation for the party when he was caught on camera requesting people to vote for him and not to think about the performance of the party. After the video went viral, Patwari claimed he was referring to BJP. (IPA Service)
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