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| Singh v/s Singh on cudgels for reigning supremacy in party | | BJP's factionalism is hard to die | | Kunal Shrivatsa
Jammu, July 9: Regardless of its emphatic win in the recently concluded Parliamentary elections, the 'disciplined' Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is yet to come to terms with the 'open factionalism' within the state unit as a 'tussle' is going on between its two senior most leaders.
If sources privy to party affairs are to be believed then the state BJP unit is still grappling with 'infighting' as Union Minister of State (MoS) in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh is locked in a bitter battle of one-upmanship against former state president Dr Nirmal Singh.
Sources informed Early Times that Dr Jitendra Singh took keen interest in convincing party High Command to revoke suspension of MLA Basohli Jagdish Sapolia adding that the decision was aimed at creating hurdles for Dr Nirmal Singh, who was assured a party ticket from Basohli Assembly constituency for the ensuing Assembly polls.
"Dr Jitendra Singh used his clout in the party high command for Sapolia's comeback… He definitely played a key role in revoking suspension of Sapolia…. The re-entry of MLA Basohli Sapolia into the party fold is not a routine development as it was made out to be….Revoking Sapolia's suspension has wider ramifications," said sources.
"Sapolia's readmission into the party is somewhat fishy… Though he was allowed an entry, the former Union Minister and once BJP's flag bearer in the state Prof Chaman Lal Gupta again failed to find favours of the BJP top brass… Sapolia, who is considered to be a close aide of Prof Gupta, got a nod of party high command only because he would be used as a pawn to outsmart Dr Nirmal Singh," they added.
Sources divulged that after BJP High Command opted for Dr Jitendra Singh as party candidate for Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary segment, the other front running contender Dr Nirmal Singh and hundreds of his loyalists expressed a strong resentment with the top party leadership since he was denied the ticket despite nurturing the constituency since 2009.
"Dr Nirmal's candidature was ignored even though he remained active in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency and worked hard for the last four-five years… The denial of party ticket made him and his supporters disenchanted," said sources.
"The sulking Dr Nirmal was called to Delhi by the BJP High Command and was assured that he would be adjusted in the coming Assembly polls and was even asked to spell out his choice of seat… When made such an offer, Dr Nirmal opted for Basohli Assembly constituency as he belongs to this particular segment," sources added.
Sources further informed that in the meantime canvassing for Lok Sabha polls hots up but the camaraderie between the two Singhs was missing.
"They (Nirmal-Jitendra) even had a verbal duel during the course of Lok Sabha polls… The relations between the two are not all cordial since they are fighting a battle of supremacy in the state BJP," said sources.
Now, when Assembly polls are just round the corner Jagdish Sapolia's home coming is an indication that all is not well within the party as senior leader and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh is making all out efforts to hamper chances of Dr Nirmal Singh in getting a party ticket from Basohli Assembly segment.
"The move to get back Sapolia by the faction led by Dr Jitendra is intended to create roadblocks for Dr Nirmal's candidature from Basohli as party may weigh its options on Sapolia, who is a sitting MLA of the constituency," maintained sources. |
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