Balaghat BJP in turmoil as Bodh Singh threatens to to enter fray

BHOPAL

: After sitting MPs

Ashok Argal

from Morena and

Gyan Singh

from

Shahdol

, member of Parliament from Balaghat constituency

Bodh Singh Bhagat

hinted on Wednesday that he would enter the fray as an independent candidate after being denied ticket by the party leadership.


Bhagat lost the party ticket allegedly due his differences with former minister Gaurishankar Bisen, who was lobbying for the candidature of his daughter Mausam from the same constituency. The BJP later chose former minister Dhal Singh Bisen as the party's official nominee. Now, the party has asked state organising general secretary Suhas Bhagat to convince the disgruntled leaders.

On the day of announcement of the ticket, supporters of Bhagat clashed with those of Dhal Singh and Gaurishankar, who has extended his support to the party's official candidate. Bhagat alleged that party dropped his name at the instance of Gaurishankar Bisen who did not like his opposition to parivarvad in the district, as Gaurishankar was promoting his daughter and wife.

"I suspect that Gaurishankar played spoilsport after which I was denied party ticket. I have requested the party leadership to review its decision, else I would fight the election as an independent", Bodh Singh told TOI, admitting that he had purchased the nomination form for the elections.

Polling in Balaghat is scheduled to be held on April 29. As the nomination for the election have already begun on April 2, the candidates can file their papers till April 9, while the last date of withdrawing the nomination papers is April 12.

Bodh Singh and his supporters have opposed Dhal Singh's candidature from Balaghat seat. After the announcement of Dhal’s name, Bodh’s supporters not only launched protest outside the party office, but also burnt effigies of BJP leaders and locked the party office gate expressing their resentment.

Like Bodh Singh, senior leader Ashok Argal has also not opened his cards on contesting the

Lok Sabha

election against the party. Argal is said to be in touch with Congress leaders.

Similarly, tribal leader and former minister Gyan Singh has also expressed resentment over denial of party ticket from Shahdol seat, where the BJP has nominated Himadri Singh, who left Congress to join the

saffron

party. Gyan Singh has threatened to file nomination as an independent candidate.

Talking about dissidents, BJP state president Rakesh Singh has clarified that the party is in touch with all the leaders and nobody will quit BJP. "We are in talks with all our leaders and reports about their resentment or quitting the party are baseless", said Singh.