BJP workers get violent as party cracks whip in UP

R.B. SINGH

LUCKNOW, JANUARY 18: Security has been beefed up at the BJP’s office in Lucknow and police posted there following violent protests by supporters of those MLAs who were denied tickets by the party.

The supporters broke the police cordon and entered the office today, shouting slogans against the party leaders. Senior party leader and MP Vinay Katiyar’s bid to pacify them failed. They dispersed only after the police resorted to lathi-charge.

Last night also, these supporters pelted stones at the office and alleged that money instead of merit played a crucial role in the distribution of tickets. The office-bearers of the Shishamau Mandal (Kanpur) have resigned from the party protesting denial of ticket to sitting MLA Rakesh Sonkar. In Kanpur, the supporters of two sitting MLAs Neeraj Chaturvedi and Ravindra Patni — whose names do not figure in the list — demonstrated and raised slogans against the party leadership.

In all, the party denied tickets to 41 MLAs. Now most of these MLAs will contest the elections to ‘‘teach a lesson ’’ to the BJP, a senior Loktantrik Congress minister said. Some of these angry MLAs have even threatened to release a document on the BJP ministers’ nexus with the slain criminal Sri Prakash Shukla, a source said. Former chief minister Kalyan Singh, who has reportedly decided to absorb those denied tickets by the BJP, is in touch with them. Some are reportedly ready to join even the Apna Dal.