Gaya BJP workers feel disappointed

GAYA: BJP workers in

Gaya

are at a loss to explain why the parliamentary constituency considered a party stronghold was given to NDA partner JD(U).

BJP and its previous incarnation Jana Sangh had won the seat seven times between 1971 and 2014. Even during the famous Indira wave of 1971, Jana Sangh candidate Ishwar Chaudhary had trounced his formidable Congress rival Suresh Kumar, son of the then Congress president Jagjivan Ram.

Giving vent to his disappointment, BJP state executive member Akhauri Niranjan regretted the failure of Gaya Town MLA and state agriculture minister Prem Kumar to fight for the retention of Gaya seat in the BJP quota.

Prem is a member of BJP state election committee and yet “surrendered to the dictates of CM Nitish Kumar”, said Niranjan. Had he been in Prem’s place, he would have resigned from his ministerial position, Niranjan added.

Asked about its fallout, Niranjan said despite the natural disappointment, BJP workers will work for the success of the JD(U) candidate as they would make personal sacrifices to see Modi as PM again. “But the real challenge would be to persuade the BJP voters to vote for somebody not fighting on the lotus symbol,” he said.

Denying any role in gifting the Gaya seat to JD(U), Prem said the decision was taken about two months back at the highest level and he (Prem Kumar) was not in a position to undo it. “Personally, I too wanted Gaya seat to be retained by BJP, but I cannot challenge the wisdom of the party leadership,” he said. Prem attributed Niranjan’s outburst to “lack of information”.

According to Mani Lal Barik, the district president of VHP, which is a constituent of Sangh Pariwar, the decision was unfortunate. “It has shocked BJP supporters,” said Barik.

“Only PM Narendra Modi can tilt the scales in JD(U)’s favour by including Gaya in his poll itinerary,” Barik said.