Four-time BJP MLA to fight as Independent

INDORE: Failing to secure a party ticket, BJP’s four-time MLA Tejsingh Sendhav on Tuesday announced plans to contest the

bypoll

in

Hatpipliya assembly seat

.


The senior leader, who has a strong hold in rural parts of Hatpipliya seat, is likely to create problems for the ruling party while

opposition Congress

is planning to take advantage from the situation.

“I have decided to contest from Hatpipliya as an

Independent

candidate to register my protest against BJP giving tickets to ‘outsiders’, who have no credibility and can deceive any party just for their own benefit,” Sendhav told TOI.

“On party’s denial of ticket, I had decided to contest the 2018 assembly polls from Hatpipliya, which has around 14,000 votes of the Sendhav community, but had to withdraw his nomination due to pressure from senior BJP leaders,” said Sendhav, adding that this time, he will not take any u-turn as it will raise serious questions on his credibility among supporters.

Sendhav also termed toppling of the Congress government as ‘unfortunate’. “In democracy, it’s not right to topple an elected government,” he said. He, however, did not disclose whether he will extend his support to BJP or Congress, if he wins the bypoll as an Independent candidate.

“Sendhavji is a very senior BJP leader and we are confident to persuade him in the party’s favour,” BJP Dewas district president

Rajiv Khandelwal

told TOI.