Denied tickets, aspirants create ruckus in BJP

​Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Telangana BJP headquarters with party workers creating a ruckus, in protest against denial of tickets to them in the ensuing Assembly elections. Trouble began when the party released its second list of candidates. Supporters of Dhanpal Suryanarayana barged into the office premises raising slogans against the BJP leadership for denying party ticket to their leader. The staff of the party office had a tough time in bringing down some of the angry supporters who had reached the terrace of the four-storied building threatening to jump from there if the party fails to reconsider its decision of allocating the ticket to Y Lakshminarayana.

Adding fuel to fire, two more aspirants from Serilingampally Assembly constituency -- Naresh and Bhaskar Reddy -- announced that they are going on an indefinite fast for denying tickets. In addition to this, the State BJP leaders were briefed that a handful of supporters of Suryanarayana had forcefully entered the District party office in Nizamabad and smashed office furniture, a computer, printer and a few other articles worth around Rs 3 lakh.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior leader dismissed the protests as isolated incidents of two or three of the party leaders who were disappointed for not getting the ticket. He said that the party had conducted an elaborate exercise for three days and consulted the party leaders and cadre from the district before finalising the list of candidates. And, the same has been sent for clearance of the Central Election Committee.

"The same procedure has been followed in case of finalising the first and second list of candidates. And, it would not be different in finalising the third list of candidates which would be announced after Diwali," he said.

Further, both Satyanarayana and Lakshminarayana had agreed to abide by the decision of the party in the selection of the candidates and to work for the party’s victory in Nizamabad Urban. He denied party was facing any major problem with its selection of candidates. It is only two or three leaders who were disappointed out of about 66 candidates whose names were finalised for various Assembly segments, said another leader from the Election Management Committee.

Clarifying on the ruckus created by the cadre, BJP Nizamabad district president Palle Ganga Reddy said the issue has been briefed to the state party leadership. A few of the party workers smashed office furniture, computer and a printer. But, this is not acceptable in "our party which is known for its discipline," he said. Though police had visited the party premises, no complaint has so far been lodged against those involved in the incident, the sources said.