JAIPUR: The BJP’s deliberations over candidates for the upcoming urban body elections continued until the early hours of Monday, marking the fourth consecutive day of discussions. The party is yet to finalise candidates for around 4–5 per cent of the seats and is expected to take a final decision on them on Monday.
The BJP has been particularly strict about maintaining confidentiality during the candidate-selection process at its state office. Leaders and office-bearers were instructed not to carry their mobile phones into the meeting room.
Amid these restrictions, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma instructed a security officer (PSO) to remove BJP State President Madan Rathore’s mobile phone from the meeting room. Rathore had left the phone on the table while it was plugged in for charging.
A video showing the incident has since gone viral on social media. The incident has drawn attention because of the strict phone restrictions imposed during the ticket-selection meetings. The move appears to have been aimed at preventing the proceedings and discussions from being recorded or leaked.
Earlier on Sunday, the BJP finalised candidates for the remaining wards in the urban local bodies of the Bharatpur division at the state office.
The party subsequently began discussions on candidates for the 2,970 wards in the Jaipur division.
Finalising candidates for several wards proved challenging because of local political equations. Monday is the final day for filing nominations.
The BJP’s authorised district or urban-body in-charges will hand over the party symbols to the respective Returning Officers.
According to sources, the party plans to release the candidate list only after the distribution of party symbols in an attempt to minimise the possibility of rebellion.
The BJP has also contacted prospective candidates and asked them to file their nominations.
Ashok Parnami, in-charge of the election steering committee for the Bharatpur division, told the media at the state office on Sunday that no dispute had taken place during the meeting held at his residence involving MLA Rajkumari Jatav and Karauli District President Govardhan Singh Jadon.
“When we sit down for discussions, heated exchanges are bound to happen. We eventually agreed on a name together,” Parnami said.
Meanwhile, the BJP is facing dissent over ticket distribution for the Alwar Municipal Corporation. Two of the city’s four Mandal presidents have resigned along with their respective executive committees. Their resignations have been submitted to the BJP District President.
Senior BJP leader Suresh Mehta also expressed his displeasure on social media, writing that the party no longer needs experienced and veteran leaders and that they should simply stay at home so that “selfish and sycophantic individuals” can make way for themselves.
Deliberations over candidates for Jaipur city’s 150 wards continued late into Sunday night. Discussions began only after 9 p.m., with considerable activity and speculation surrounding prospective candidates for wards in the Civil Lines and Kishanpol Assembly constituencies.
In fact, CM Sharma was also in office on Sunday till late night to balance the equations for ticket distribution. Earlier, the issue of ticket distribution grew more contentious when a group of party workers reached the BJP state office and raised slogans outside the main gate.
--IANS
