BJP reels under series of protests over ticket for Rajasthan polls

Rajasthan BJP leaders and supporters protest over denial of tickets for Assembly polls. Protests witnessed in several districts, including Rajsamand, Sriganganagar, Udaipur, Bikaner, Chittorgarh, Kota, Jaipur, Alwar, Bundi. Some dissidents threaten to contest as independents if demands not met.

Protests by disgruntled BJP leaders and their supporters over denial of party ticket for the Rajasthan Assembly polls erupted on October 23 in several districts of the State.

After the party released its second list of candidates last week, dissident leaders and their supporters protested in Rajsamand, Sriganganagar, Udaipur, and Bikaner. Similar protests were witnessed on Sunday too in districts such as Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Kota, Jaipur, Alwar, and Bundi, apart from Rajsamand.

On October 23, local leaders protested against BJP candidate Surendra Singh Rathore from Kumbhalgarh seat in Rajsamand district. Ticket claimants have given an ultimatum to the party's high command to reconsider its decision and said that they will contest as independent candidates if their demand is not met.

"There is resentment among the party workers. Those who took the decision did not even know the situation on the ground," former Zila Parishad member Nathulal Gurjar said.

Praveen Mewada, Sardargarh sarpanch of Rajsamand, said that it was better to give a ticket to an outsider.

"But, Surendra Singh should not have been given the ticket. People are not happy with him. We are holding a discussion with workers," Mewada said.

In Sriganganagar, former BJP candidate Vinita Ahuja indicated that she would contest the elections as an independent candidate after the party gave its ticket to Jaideep Bihani.