Amid full-blown rebellion within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana after the release of its first list of 67 candidates for the assembly polls, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has made it clear that there will be no change in the candidates who received the 'lotus' tickets. Downplaying the internal turmoil within the party, Saini said it is natural for ticket seekers to be angry, but they'll be persuaded.
Speaking to reporters in Rohtak, the Haryana Chief Minister said everyone wants a ticket, but the "lotus" is one and it can be given to only one person. "It is natural for the ticket seekers to be angry. But they will be persuaded,” he said, according to a report by Times of India.
Also Read: Haryana Polls: Congress Fields Bhupinder Hooda, Vinesh Phogat In First List, Names CM Nayab Saini’s Challenger
On Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joining Congress, Saini said every person has their own opinion about which ideology they want to associate with. However, he questioned the grand old party's intentions behind the move and said, "Congress should clarify its intention behind this. PM Modi has always taken decisions in the national interest. And Congress has always opposed all of its decisions. So they should clarify as they do politics on players, soldiers and farmers..."
The ruling BJP is likely to get a tough fight in the upcoming state election in Haryana as it faces a strong two-term anti-incumbency factor and internal party rumblings, reflected in several resignations since the candidate list came out. After being denied tickets, the party faced protests from Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and MLA Lakshman Dass Napa, with both resigning.
Also Read: Haryana Polls Assembly Election: BJP's Pre-Poll Woes Continue As First List Sparks Revolt, Resignations
Former minister Karan Dev Kamboj also stepped down as the state BJP's Other Backward Classes (OBC) Morcha chief after being denied the ticket. He did not shy away from expressing his displeasure over the move and made his resentments public on Thursday when he refused to shake hands with CM Saini at an event in Yamunanagar.
Former minister Savitri Jindal, left Congress to shake hands with BJP in March, days after her son and industrialist Naveen Jindal had joined the saffron party, also announced that she would fight the polls from Hisar, even as an independent.