BJP ticket sold in Bihar, claims MP RK Singh; party trashes charge

Patna/New Delhi, September 26

In a major embarrassment for the BJP ahead of the Bihar polls, its MP R.K. Singh today alleged the party ticket was sold to criminals after denying those to sitting MLAs and genuine workers, a charge rubbished by the party as “baseless and unfortunate”.

Singh, a former Union Home Secretary, said after criminals were rewarded with ticket by the BJP there remained no difference between it and Lalu Prasad, whom the party has been targeting over ‘jungle raj’.

“Criminals have been given ticket even before they joined the party. This is injustice to the people of Bihar who have been betrayed. Some people have sold ticket. What is this? “

How will we get clean administration?

“You have given ticket to criminals. How will you give a clean administration in Bihar. We as residents of Bihar are concerned. What is the difference between you and Lalu Prasad,” Singh said in Patna.

Despite the potentially damaging statement by Singh, sources in the BJP said the party was unlikely to take any action against the MP from Ara before the state Assembly polls get over.

However, responding to Singh’s comments, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the ticket was distributed “fairly” after considering all aspects.

“In the BJP, wherever there is ticket distribution, it is done fairly and after considering all aspects. As far as Bihar is concerned, the BJP-led NDA will win a comfortable majority.

“It has the support of the people of Bihar,” he said.

Reacting sharply to the charge, BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said, “It is an unfortunate statement. We reject and condemn such baseless allegations. R.K. Singh is an honourable MP of the party, but it seems he does not know the party well and it would be better if he attempts to do that.” Another BJP Spokesperson Nalin Kohli described Singh’s statement as “unfortunate”.

“It is his personal view. The Central leadership of the party collectively takes decisions as ours is a democratic party. Singh’s views do not reflect in any way how the party functions,” he said.

LJP ‘agrees’ with Singh’s concern

Meanwhile, the LJP today said it agreed with BJP MP Singh’s concern over people with tainted image getting the party ticket in Bihar, even as it dubbed the row over his controversial claims as the internal matter of the BJP.

LJP leader Chirag Paswan said Singh’s allegations will not have any impact on the NDA’s prospects in the state as he named 11 more party candidates for the Assembly elections.

Party is yet to announce names for eight of its 40 seats.

“I agree with R.K. Singh’s concern that people with criminal background should not be getting ticket. Such people must be stopped from entering politics and all parties should make efforts for this,” he told a press conference.

Ironically, the LJP has been accused in the past of giving tickets to many people with criminal background and even this time it has named as candidates several kin of its senior leader Surajbhan Singh, who has a string of charges against him and whose wife is a Lok Sabha MP from Paswan’s party.

Among the candidates announced today are Bihar LJP chief Pashupati Kumar Paras, Chirag’s uncle who has been put up from Rajapakar constituency. He is also fighting from Alauli seat.

His loss from Alauli in 2010 may have played a role in him deciding to fight from two seats this time, Chiran said.

BJP’s other allies, RLSP and HAM (secular), have named all their candidates.

The BJP is yet to name its six candidates.

The BJP, LJP, RLSP and HAM(S) are fighting from 159, 40, 23 and 21 constituencies, respectively, in the 243-seat Bihar Assembly polls.— PTI