The “fool-proof” plan of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to counter <g data-gr-id="49">jungal</g> raj part 2 of their arch rivals — Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad — may be hit after bureaucrat and BJP parliamentarian RK Singh on Saturday slammed senior party leaders of the state alleging that the BJP has distributed tickets to criminals in exchange of money. The Ara MP has blamed former deputy CM and a frontrunner among BJP’s CM aspirants Sushil Kumar Modi for the entire episode.
Targeting Modi, Singh said: “Popular sitting MLAs are denied tickets and criminals are being given the tickets. No wonder party workers are enraged in Bihar. A number of senior leaders quit party posts or have protested in other ways against denial of ticket from the BJP.”
Singh further alleged: “They are giving tickets to criminals. How will they give a clean government? This is <g data-gr-id="48">injustice</g> to the people of Bihar. Some people have sold tickets to criminals. Many BJP workers are angry over seat distribution,” Singh said, adding: “When the tickets were distributed, I called Sushil Kumar Modi, but he did not receive my call.”
Surprisingly, Singh’s statement has been supported by another “dissident” MP from Patna Sahib Shatrughan Sinha, who has been listed at number 33 in BJP’s star campaigners’ list. Hailing former home secretary and MP from Ara in Bihar, Sinha said: “RK Singh is a very respected and responsible MP, he can never make any irresponsible statement.”
Though Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has rejected Singh’s allegation of corruption, support of Sinha may fuel the mud-slanging row further as other NDA partners may also join the bandwagon. While trashing Singh’s allegation, the former BJP national president said: “In BJP, ticket distribution is done fairly considering all aspects.” Taking a dig at BJP president Amit Shah, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said when party’s chief has remained in jail, then how it cannot be possible that criminals would not be given tickets? “Shahji has remained in jail for a longer period, so it’s very obvious that his candidates would also be from the same criminal background. They have given tickets to Sunil Pandey’s wife, who is in jail, after JD(U) denied ticket offer,” Tyagi told Millennium Post, adding that Singh has the courage to speak the bitter truth.
According to political experts, the fresh allegation may dent the perception of the party in comparison to their arch rival — the Mahagadbadhan as it was “expected” that the dissent over ticket distribution would first come from grand alliance side.
Sources in the party said: “Singh had given a list of five candidates for their selection as BJP candidate from different constituencies, which was not “considered” by senior leaders of the party. Since, his demands have not been met; Singh has made it an issue now.”
Rejecting the charge, former deputy Chief Minister Modi said: “Sometimes leaders press for their supporters to be given tickets. But all wishes cannot be accommodated. I get so many calls during <g data-gr-id="55">election</g>. It is not possible to answer all.”
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), a key NDA ally, said that it agreed with RK Singh’s concern over people
with tainted image getting party tickets in Bihar assembly elections. “Such people must be stopped from entering politics and all parties should make efforts towards this,” said party leader
Chirag Paswan.