News Mania Desk/ Piyal Chatterjee / 20th September 2024
Prior to the Haryana Assembly elections on October 5, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered yet another blow when Gayatri Devi, the state’s head of the party’s women’s section, left to join the Congress party. Being refused a ticket for the Hansi assembly seat infuriated Devi. Vinod Bhayana, the MLA from the seat, has been nominated by the BJP for the 2024 assembly elections.
“ In 2014, when I had sought a ticket, I was told to wait for government formation. I agreed and committedly worked for the party,” Devi told Indian Express.
In Haryana, the saffron party has seen a revolution as prominent figures, including ministers, have resigned over allegations that tickets for the October 5 assembly elections were given to “turncoats.” Following the publishing of the saffron party’s first list of 67 candidates for the elections on September 4, news of the uprising spread. On September 10, the party unveiled its second list of 21 contenders. There are 90 assembly seats in Haryana.
“No one listens to party workers in the BJP. Only big speeches are given by their leaders claiming they granted 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats but did those women who have earned their place get any space?The BJP rewards only wives of MLAs or the wives of MLAs’ sons. What about party workers who campaign door-to-door?,” Devi said in the Indian Express report.
In preparation for the Haryana assembly elections on Thursday, BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda unveiled the party’s platform, which includes 20 pledges.BJP leaders in Haryana, including state Energy Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and Minister of State for Social Justice Bishamber Singh Balmiki, rose up in protest against the distribution of tickets. Chief Minister Saini tried to appease the two ministers, but they withdrew from the government.The rebels’ grievance is that, when it comes to ticket distribution, the party has given preference to turncoats over loyalists. Eight incumbent MLAs, including the two ministers, were dropped by the BJP on the list of 67 names that was made public on September 4.
“Vinod Bhayana, who is an unpopular leader, was instead preferred despite many complaints against him. He has destroyed Hansi,” said Devi
“At one point of time, the BJP was a party based on organisation but today it has become a party of industrialists). Be it Haryana, Maharashtra or Rajasthan, the party is run by 10-15 people,” she said.
