MCG polls: Facing rift over tickets, BJP boots 24 members

Day after releasing its manifesto, the internal dissent in the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) cadres came to fore on Sunday when the party leadership ousted 24 of its members on disciplinary grounds.

The members were removed for contesting against the party’s nominated candidates in the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) elections that are scheduled to be held on September 24.

Party removed 24 members, including six women from 16 wards, as part of the disciplinary action. Action was taken after the rebel candidates did not relent. Party is facing dissent from cadres saying that tickets were denied to party workers and some outsiders were given preference because of vested interests and monetary concerns.

“I have been working for the party for last 15 years and never asked for a ticket. This time, I wanted to contest but a parachute candidate was preferred because he has deep pockets,” said one of the ousted members. The member is now contesting as an independent and is hoping to win.

BJP members were removed from several wards including, 3, 8, 10, 11, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 30, 31, 34, and 35.

The party had received 800 applications for tickets, of which 400 were rejected in the initial stage and interviews with 400 candidates were held on September 7 at six locations in different phases.

“Such steps are taken when ticket distribution is not as per merit. BJP government is facing failure in governance and there has been no development in Gurgaon. These failures have been aggravated by the party’s inner differences,” said Capt (retd) Ajay Singh Yadav, former Congress minister.

“The ruling party has no focus on development and is busy settling inner conflicts,” said RS Rathee, independent candidate for ward 34 from where two BJP members have been removed.

Read I MCG elections: BJP manifesto promises better infra, civic amenities

In order to show strength and unity, senior BJP leaders had gathered at the release of the party manifesto on Saturday. The leaders included state president Subhash Barala, MP and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, state PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh, MLAs Umesh Aggarwal, Tejpal Tanwar, local leaders GL Sharma and chairman of Haryana cow protection commission Bhani Ram Mangla, among others.

“The party works with discipline and people who do not understand this discipline would not be tolerated. Hence, these people have been expelled,” Raman Malik, BJP’s Haryana spokesperson, said.