Ex-BJP district chief vies for ticket from Haridwar city

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 5

Senior BJP leader and three-time MLA from the city seat Madan Kaushik is getting a stiff challenge from former BJP district president Om Prakash Jamdagni, who also has staked his claim to the party ticket.

Jamdagni, sub-coordinator of the BJP media committee for the region, said he had apprised members of the party screening committee, all five parliamentarians of the state and party state president Ajay Bhatt about his claim.

Jamdagni said in the last three decades he had served the party in various capacities from youth wing to main body and had worked for the party candidate win in the elections.

“My claim is based on my contribution to the party and not to oppose fellow party leader and sitting legislator Madan Kaushik. He is a three-time legislator but still he too would have laid claim for the party ticket. Similarly, I am a local resident and ticket aspirant from the city segment. If given a chance I will work for the overall development of the area and if not then too will work sincerely for the party’s eventual candidate,” asserted Jamdagni.

On being close to local MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who is bête noire of city legislator Madan Kaushik, Jamdagni said, “He is also close to Pauri Garhwal Member of Parliament BC Khanduri, Nainital MP BS Koshyari and such rumours are either created by rivals or media to make the political talks spicier.”

Alleging bias by Congress Chief Minister Harish Rawat towards all segments which have BJP legislators including city segment, Jamdagni said despite this all BJP legislators of the district had lived up to the expectations of the people.

All BJP legislators have ensured mass development and full utilisation of the granted funds. “There is certain pro BJP wave in the entire state and from 11 Assembly segments of the Haridwar district it’s quite possible that BJP will make a clean sweep,” claimed Jamdagni.