BJP left in a lurch after party workers protest against ticket to unpopular ministers

The BJP in Madhya Pradesh is facing a tough challenge from dissidents. While Minister of State for Panchayti Raj Devi Singh Sareyam who was denied the party ticket has quit, the party workers have also come out on to the streets demanding cancellation of tickets given to unpopular ministers.

The demonstrations outside the BJP office in Bhopal after the announcement of 147 candidates has left party leadership including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state President Narendra Singh Tomar worried.

The protestors are demanding the cancellation of ticket given to Forest Minister Sartaj Singh from Sevni Malwa. Though the BJP is trying to play it down saying it was the initial reaction but the number of protestors tell a different story. The anti-incumbency against sitting MLAs and ministers is such that the party wants to convert it into a Shivraj versus Congress election.

A BJP rebel Yogendra Singh Mandloi said, "I have come with my resignation. If the party does not cancel the ticket of Sartaj Singh, I'm going to resign from all party positions." The BJP is hoping to neutralise the anger against its sitting MLAs by denying them tickets, but that is not helping matters either.

The party has played it safe by not cancelling many tickets in the first list but those who have been denied the party ticket are up in arms. Sareyam has been denied the party ticket and he has responded by resigning from the party. He is now likely to contest from the Gondvana Gantantra Party and can cause damage to the party.

BJP workers too are not willing to accept the party diktat lying down. A BJP worker said, "If the party does not keep the sentiments of the workers in mind, we will not allow the candidates to canvass."

The BJP is facing a similar situation in almost all the districts. The party does not want to repeat the unpopular MLAs but also can not afford large rebellion. The part now is waiting for the second list of the Congress and is hoping for dissidence that would balance out the negative impact caused by disgruntled elements within its own ranks.