BJP mahila leader threatens suicide over ticket allotment

JAMMU: Within hours of the issuance of list of candidates for the urban local bodies elections, women activists of the BJP raised a banner of revolt on Friday, accusing the party leadership of “importing” candidates from other parties and selling party ticket to influential people.

BJP Mahila Morcha leader Sonia Gupta speaks to former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta at the party office in Jammu on Friday. Tribune Photo: Inderjeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 21

Within hours of the issuance of list of candidates for the urban local bodies elections, women activists of the BJP raised a banner of revolt on Friday, accusing the party leadership of “importing” candidates from other parties and selling party ticket to influential people.

Women leaders have reasons to air their grievances because some women family members of the Sangh Parivar leaders have been preferred over BJP women activists for ticket allotment.

This morning a group of women workers of the party led by state Mahila Morcha president Rajni Sethi stormed into the official residence of BJP president Ravinder Raina to lodge their protest but the latter expressed his helplessness to change the mandate.

The situation took an ugly turn when a prominent Mahila Morcha leader this afternoon threatened to commit suicide in front of the party office if the candidate announced for ward number 50 of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) was not changed.

“I have given 24-hour ultimatum to the party leadership to ‘rectify’ the mistake otherwise I will not hesitate to take the extreme step,” said Sonia Gupta, who has been denied a ticket.

“For the last 15 years, I have been working in the party with dedication and commitment but an outsider has been imposed on the locals,” she said.

Sonia Gupta is not an isolated case, many “deserving” women activists stand ignored and preference has been given to those who have recently joined the party.

A ticket has also not been given to the state women wing president of the party to “accommodate” an outsider. Expressing her helplessness to protect the interests of women workers, state president of the BJP Mahila Morcha Rajni Sethi said, “What can I say? The ticket for my ward (No. 24) has been given to a woman who joined the party just two days ago. Instead of recognising my dedication and commitment, the party leadership has given preference to an outsider.”

Another women leader, Neeru Anand, said her services had not been recognised by the party and a ticket was given to an inactive worker. “This is injustice with committed workers,” she said.

Women wing chief ignored too

To “accommodate” an outsider, a ticket has also been denied to the state women wing president of the BJP. Expressing her helplessness to protect the interests of women workers, state president of the BJP Mahila Morcha Rajni Sethi said, “What can I say? The ticket for my ward (No. 24) has been given to a woman who joined the party just two days ago. Instead of recognising my dedication and commitment, the party leadership has given preference to an outsider.”