Denied ticket, Hathin ex-MLA quits BJP

The ruling BJP party received a jolt on Wednesday as Kehar Singh Rawat, a senior leader and a former MLA from Hathin segment in the district, quit the party in protest against the denial of ticket to him. He has filed nomination as an Independent candidate from Hathin seat. On Tuesday night, the BJP had announced the name of Manoj Rawat as its candidate.

Charging the BJP of backstabbing him, Rawat said he had resigned from all posts of the party with immediate effect and had decided to contest as an Independent. Rawat, who got elected MLA from here on INLD ticket in 2014, had resigned from the party and joined the BJP in 2019.

He said while his claim for the ticket was ignored in 2019, this was the second time that the party had insulted him, despite his dedication to the party for the past over five years. Alleging that the party high command was obliging sycophants, he said he had been left with no option but to contest as an Independent. Rawat later submitted his nomination papers at the SDM's office as an Independent candidate.

This is the first revolt by a BJP leader in the district, even though the party has nominated new faces at Palwal and Hodal segments also.

BJP candidate Manoj Rawat had already filed his nomination papers from here on Tuesday. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate.