It appears that North Indian supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are upset with party’s decision to give ticket to R.N. Singh.
It appears that North Indian supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are upset with party’s decision to give ticket to R.N. Singh. Party loyalists claimed that Mr Singh is originally a Congressman and joined BJP just a day before he filing his nomination on May 31 for legislative council election.
On the other hand, another candidate and import from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Pravin Darekar claimed that the court has dismissed cases of corruption against him. Vivekanand Gupta, BJP secretary, said that Mr Darekar is misleading.
He also refuted the allegations of party tickets being sold. “There is no chance of selling out of tickets in BJP and in Devendra Fadnavis’ regime, its impossible,” Mr Shelar said.
Although the BJP asked the candidates contesting the June 10 legislative council elections to stay tight-lipped, sparks continued to fly as candidates and rivals exchanged charges against each other. Though state BJP president Raosaheb Danve denied reports of cadres getting disheartened, prominent senior North Indian community leader R.U. Singh expressed his clear displeasure over the selection of R N Singh.
“The city unit abides by the party high command’s decision,” said Mumbai BJP president, Ashish Shelar. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Preeti Sharma-Menon alleged that BJP that the party’s entire focus has been on collecting funds and hence the party tickets were being sold out. Refuting her claims, Mr Shelar added, “There is no chance of selling out of tickets in BJP and in Devendra Fadnavis’ regime, its imposible.”
However, R.U. Singh, party loyalist and former state vice president stated that the community had lodged their protest with Mr Danve over the candidature of R.N. Singh.
If he expressed his clear displeasure at the candidature of R.N. Singh, Mr Darekar refuted allegations of corruption against him in connection with the Mumbai District Cooperative Bank (MDCB). Speaking with media persons at the state BJP headquarters, he claimed that the FIR lodged against him has been quashed by the Bombay high court. He further argued that following the HC order even the probe by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) would come to an end.
Referring to the MDCB loans to 59 institutions in the northern Indian region, he alleged that Mumbai BJP secretary Vivekanand Gupta held personal grudges against him. In a quick rejoinder Mr Gupta contended that the HC had not passed any order quashing the FIR against Mr Darekar and argued that the EOW investigation against the BJP candidate was still on.
