Terming him a candidate of former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in poll-bound Budhni are beginning to oppose the nomination of Ramakant Bhargava from the constituency. The by-election for the Budhni assembly constituency is scheduled for 13 November.

The local BJP leaders and party workers openly opposed Bhargava’s candidature in the presence of former minister Rampal Singh, who was in the constituency to chalk out campaign strategy.

A meeting of party workers was scheduled in the Bherunda area of the assembly constituency, where party workers raised demands for a change of candidate.Singh is co-in-charge for the Budhni assembly by-election. He had to face opposition from the workers, who apprised him of their refusal to accept Bhargava's candidature.

They warned that a refusal to change the candidate by the organisation may result in party workers altering the outcome in the constituency. The workers are seeking the party nomination for Rajendra Singh Rajput, a local BJP leader.

The workers, dissatisfied with BJP candidate Bhargava, were holding a meeting at Bherunda when Singh arrived and attempted to pacify the agitated party members. The party workers, however, stuck to their demands and said that the state and central organisation had not respected the sentiments of the people of Budhni.

The workers stated that the candidate was not acceptable to them and vowed that failure to consider their demands would result in severe consequences for the party.

Continuing to press for their demand to nominate Rajput as the candidate, the agitated party members forced Singh to stop his speech midway and attempt to pacify them, even as the party workers continued to raise slogans warning the BJP.While addressing the meeting, Singh said, “We all together had sent the name of Kartikeya Singh Chauhan to the central leadership, but due to the name being of a family member, Chauhan did not attend the meeting held in Delhi.

Therefore, the decision taken by the central leadership is that of the party. I have come among you to listen to your feelings; I will put your point before the organisation."

Rajput—a strong claimant for the ticket for the Budhni assembly by-election—was also present at the meeting. He too tried to pacify the workers but described the party's decision as painful.In a speech charged with emotion, Rajput said, “A lot of effort was made to stop the workers from coming to this meeting. But I salute the courage and spirit of the workers who came to this meeting at my call and as a mark of respect for me. I called this meeting so that the penance of the workers is not disturbed. Whatever decision the workers take will be acceptable to me. I have no greed for the post. We will convey our point to the organisation in a dignified manner. However, the decision taken by the state and national leadership is painful.”