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| Caste factor likely to dent poll prospective of BJP after banner of revolt raises | | | Kunal Shrivatsa/Sanjay Pathak
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 9: With sitting Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MLA from Basohli today formally joined Congress and party's two other sitting MLAs from Hiranagar and Bani in Kathua district also likely to contest the upcoming elections either as Independent or from a party platform, the growing rebellion in the saffron party's has jolted its game plan in Kathua ahead of polls while at the same time the party is also grappling with the caste equations in the district.
If sources are to be believed then the BJP is battling on two fronts in Kathua district as on one hand the voice of dissent is growing over the distribution of tickets while on the other it is facing a challenge in the shape of caste factor as the BJP has given mandate to Rajputs on two seats while it is contemplating to field another Rajput leader from Billawar which means the figure will touch three out of five seats in the district where one seat of Hiranagar falls under reserved category.
Sitting MLA from Basohli Jagdish Sapolia's switching sides to Congress is just a beginning of raising banner of revolt against the BJP leadership as the other two sitting MLAs from Bani and Hiranagar-Lal Chand and Durga Dass respectively, are also likely to jump into poll fray in protest against their omission as BJP nominees for the forthcoming polls.
BJP's problems are definitely getting compounded in Kathua district with each passing day. Before the announcement of party candidates from five seats of the district, the BJP was on a strong ground as it has gained lead in all the five Assembly segments of the district in the Lok Sabha polls-2014 but suddenly the same party looks to be on a sticky wicket purely because of its poor handling of naming party candidates.
"The BJP which won three seats of Basohli, Bani and Hiranagar in the 2008-Assembly polls and led over its rivals in Parliamentary elections is now battling with revolt from Jagdish Sapolia, Lal Chand and Durga Dass…While Sapolia preferred to join Congress, Lal Chand is likely to contest as an Independent from Bani where as Durga Dass may contest as Panthers Party nominee from Hiranagar…Dropping of names of all three sitting MLAs without giving a second thought could prove costly for the BJP in the upcoming elections particularly Bani where Lal Chand has strong grip over majority of voters from Thakur and Gaddi communities," said sources.
Sources further said that Lal Chand today held a long meeting with his supporters and workers at Bani wherein a consensus emerged that he should contest the election as an Independent and give a befitting reply to BJP for not giving party ticket to him.
BJP is also battling with the caste equation as the sudden surge of Rajput candidates which include Lal Singh from Basohli and Rajiv Jasrotia from Kathua while one more name in the shape of Dr Nirmal Singh doing the rounds from Billawar has not gone down well among Brahmin voters as well as party leaders representing the community.
"In a scenario where not even a single seat was given to a Brahmin candidate, the community is feeling cheated…It has certainly irked the BJP leaders from Brahmin community as they feel neglected and ignored by the party….Everything is not okay as far as announcement of party mandate goes since the name of Dr Nirmal Singh from Billawar Assembly segment is yet to be cleared despite him being the Chairman of BJP's Election Campaign Committee," said sources.
"Dr Nirmal Singh's name got stuck due to strong claim of Satish Sharma as party candidate from Billawar otherwise Nirmal's name should have been in the first list itself in which the likes of Sat Sharma, who was only a Secretary of Campaign Committee, got party's nod to contest polls from Jammu West seat…Party is weighing its options before finalizing any name from Billawar….It has not yet made up its mind on Dr Nirmal's candidature due to caste factors," they added. |
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