District ex-president unhappy over BJP overlooking him for Karnal seat

The internal dissent in the ruling BJP over ticket distribution for the Karnal Assembly seat has deepened, as three days after former mayor Renu Bala Gupta expressed anger over ticket distribution from the same seat, former district president Ashok Sukhija voiced his dissatisfaction.

Sukhija also raised concerns over the party overlooking him, as he is among the senior-most candidates.

Sukhija has called a meeting of his supporters on Monday and has left the decision whether to contest the election on them.

Former mayor Gupta has already expressed anger over the ticket distribution and has called a meeting of her supporters in three days to decide the future course of action.

The party has fielded Jagmohan Anand, former media coordinator to ex-CM, as its candidate from Karnal seat.

In April, Sukhija had penned a letter to BJP president JP Nadda, expressing grave concerns over the alleged neglect of the party's core workers.

Expressing disappointment, Sukhija said, “I have been associated with the BJP, earlier Jana Sangh, since 1967 when I was 11 in Rohtak. Later my family shifted to Karnal in 1971 and I started working for the party. I have served the party at different positions.”

He alleged that the party has ignored winning candidates. “The party has ignored the winning candidate. I will decide my future course of action after a meeting with my supporters,” said Sukhija.

Vijaypal unhappy at Indri seat

Advocate Vijaypal, son of former deputy speaker Chaudhary Vedpal, also expressed displeasure over the distribution of BJP ticket at Indri seat. In a meeting of his supporters, Vijaypal, who had joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha election, said the party has given ticket against the wish of the general public. The party has fielded sitting MLA Ram Kumar Kashyap, who had won in 2019.

“My supporters have constituted a committee to decide further course of action. The decision will be conveyed to all on September 11,” he added.