BJP announces city executive committee amid protest

Indore: Nine months after his appointment, BJP city president Sumit Mishra announced the city executive committee, comprising 33 office bearers, including eight vice-presidents, three general secretaries, and eight secretaries. The appointment of Swati Kasid as secretary, however, raised many eyebrows.During last Municipal Corporation elections, Swati was initially fielded as a corporator candidate for Ward 56. However, her ticket was revoked by the party within 16 hours due to complaints about her husband Yuvraj Kasid's (alias Yuvraj Ustad) criminal background. Yuvraj faces multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and extortion through his gang.The appointment directly contradicted the then-state BJP president VD Sharma's public announcement of ‘zero tolerance,' that the party would not give tickets to even family members of persons with a criminal background.Mishra could not be reached for his comments on the list.The release of the executive committee list also saw protest by members of Khati community who stormed Indore BJP office and shouted slogans against Mishra. The protesters even smeared black ink on Mishra's nameplate outside his cabin, on the office door and a poster outside the office which they later tore down. Over two dozen party office bearers reportedly submitted their resignations from their respective posts.Khati community national vice president, Pawan Choudhary, accused the BJP of ignoring their community and targeting their leader Jitu Jirati. "We have been voting for the BJP on Jitu Jirati's word, ignoring Jitu Patwari, yet his supporters are not being made office bearers," Choudhary asserted, claiming 80% of their community votes for the BJP.