BJP, Congress men come to blows

A high voltage political drama was enacted in the State Capital on Thursday where a tug of war over elected Bhopal district panchayat president was witnessed involving the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress. The drama started soon after the Congress candidate, Manmohan Nagar, was declared unopposed as the Bhopal district panchayat president on Thursday.  Immediately after getting elected, Nagar was seen at the BJP State office accompanied by BJP MlAs from Huzur Rameshwar Sharma and Berasia MlA Vishnu Khatri besides former MlA Arvind Bhadoria.

However, the eyewitnesses outside the Collector's office said that Nagar was forcibly taken away in a car by a few persons while coming out after taking his winning certificate.

Nagar talked to the media persons at the BJP office and said, "Think whatever you like, whether I am in BJP or Congress." However, BJP MlA Rameshwar Sharma present beside him claimed that Nagar is a BJP man and has faith in the saffron party's polices. Meanwhile, Congress leaders including Bhopal District Congress Committee president PC Sharma, former Bhopal Municipal Corporation Chairman Kailash Mishra, Bhopal District Congress Committee (rural) president Avnish Bhargava, corporator Girish Sharma and others reached the BJP office and asked Nagar to sit in their vehicle. This caused tension among the supporters of both the parties and they came to blows with each other. In the end, Nagar chose to go with the Congress leaders, bringing to an end the tug of war between the two arch political rivals.

later, talking to the media persons at State Congress office Nagar claimed that he was forcibly taken to the BJP office by MlA Rameshwar who threatened him of life and also bashed him. "My condition became so worse that in that short period while I was at the BJP office I fainted twice.  I am a Congressman and would remain in the party lifelong. The administration and BJP leaders pressurised me to join the BJP," Nagar said.

Bhopal District Congress Committee president and former MlA PC Sharma said that unable to find a candidate for the Bhopal district panchayat the BJP stooped to such low level and made a mockery of democracy. "However, we would lodge an FIR against the BJP MlA Rameshwar Sharma and others who kidnapped and manhandled our candidate," he added.