As factionalism in the BJP refused to die down on the second day after declaring candidates for the February 7 Assembly polls, the BJP’s top leadership on Wednesday issued a strict warning to disgruntled leaders directing them to toe the party line or face the music. Sources said that the BJP has sought a report on the growing dissent within the State unit.
A report has been sought to assess the possible fallout of sidelining local leaders and fielding new comers, including Kiran Bedi, Krishna Tirath, Vinod Kumar Binny and MS Dhir among others. Besides, unhappy with the ongoing protests, Delhi BJP in-charge and Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha on Wednesday pulled up State party vice-president Abhay Verma, whose supporters continued to stage protest for the second day at the party’s office. Jha was heard ordering Verma to immediately end the protest or be ready to face action within few minutes.
The protests had erupted in East Delhi areas where three first-timers to BJP have been made party candidates. These seats include Patparganj, Jungpura and Okhla where the party has fielded Vinod Kumar Binny, MS Dhir and Brahm Singh Bidhuri respectively. BJP workers from laxmi Nagar staged protest at the party headquarters against denying ticket to Poorvanchali leader Abhay Verma. “The party top brass is fully tracking such activities. Any sort of protest against party candidates can have negative impact. The high command has warned all party men to fall in line or face action,” said a Delhi BJP leader.
Meanwhile, angry supporters of State BJP vice-president Abhay Verma stormed into the party office and staged a sit-in protest demanding withdrawal of BB Tyagi’s candidature from laxmi Nagar assembly segment. They alleged inadequate representation to the Poorvanchalis in Delhi. “The national leadership has denied ticket to a deserving candidate that will cost the BJP heavily in the elections. The party has also been unfair to Poorvanchalis in distribution of ticket. This will have serious impact on 20 Assembly seats dominated by the community,” a BJP protestor said. Verma’s supporters in party’s Poorvanchal cell have also threatened to resign from the party and derail its preparations for the February 7 Assembly polls.