BJP workers burn effigy of party candidate in Khajuraho

BHOPAL

: As the BJP is racing against time to announce names of candidates for the

Lok Sabha polls

, troubles for the party mounted in Khajuraho, a day after it announced name of the candidate for the constituency. Unhappy over the choice of the party leaders,

BJP workers

staged protest against the

party candidate V D Sharma

by burning his effigy on Monday. With placards reading ‘V D Sharma wapis jao’, the party workers termed Sharma as an “outsider” in the constituency.

Sharma who received a warm welcome at some of the villages in the constituency, denied that he was an “outsider.” “It was the party’s decision to field me as a candidate from Khajuraho and all the party workers are united for my victory,” he said.

Earlier, BJP was said to be considering Sharma’s candidature from Bhopal and Morena as well, party sources claimed.

Similar protest against Sharma took place in Gaurihar and Rajnagar tehsils of Chattarpur district as well. In Rajnagar, close to Khajuraho town, villagers pasted a “V D Sharma wapis jao” poster on the effigy before it was set afire.

Sources in the BJP claimed that a group of party leaders have formed an alliance to field their nominee from Khajuraho. One of them also got “a nomination form” required to contest the poll, they said.

Meanwhile, the Congress candidate from the constituency Kavita Singh filed her nomination. In a show of strength, a large number of party workers took out a rally in support as she reached the district electoral officer in Chattarpur on Monday.