Unfazed by protests in Khajuraho, VD Sharma says all is well

BHOPAL: After strong protests in Khajuraho against naming

VD Sharma

as

BJP candidate for Lok Sabha seat

, the local party cadre has urged the party chief to reconsider his decision. Sharma’s candidature evoked sharp criticism from local BJP leaders.

The party leaders have now asked

national president Amit Shah

to reconsider Sharma’s name. Khajuraho, so far was represented by Nagendra Singh - who hails from Satna.

Unfazed by the protests against him, Sharma told TOI over phone, “All is well. Everything is under control and there is enthusiasm among the party workers to work for BJP win.”

Sanjay Nagaich, a prominent BJP leader from Panna - a part of

Khajuraho seat

said, “The outsider factor is dominating here and we have asked the party leadership to reconsider Sharma’s candidature.”

He claimed, “It is very difficult to convince the people and local workers and the moment they learnt that VD Sharma belongs to Chambal region, they start protesting.”

Nagaich said Khajuraho people suffered last time as well as Nagendra Singh also hailed from Satna. He said, BJP had made an assurance to give him the Lok Sabha ticket, but backed out at the last moment.

Amidst protests on Tuesday, Sharma held a meeting of party workers in Panna. He said, “All those who have been protesting belong to the BJP family and many of them have worked with me. Now they have given up the protests and have decided to work for the party.”

Several protests took place on Tuesday in Panna and Chattarpur where Sharma’s effigies were burnt and posters with “VD Sharma Wapis Jao” (VD Sharma go back) message were displayed. Virendra Khatik, the party candidate from neighbouring Tikamgarh also faces a similar problem.

“In fact, he is banking heavily on PM Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah’s campaign beginning later this week.” party sources said. A senior BJP leader, who had contested Rajya Sabha elections has also lodged a complaint with organisational general secretary Ramlal about the issue of outsiders being fielded from Bundelkhand.