BHOPAL: Much like the BJP, open rebellions have also broken out in the opposition Congress over ticket distribution in Madhya Pradesh where it hopes to return to power after 15 years. Supporters of at least two ticket aspirants, Sajid Ali and Nasir Islam, protested against the party’s nod to Muslim hardliner Arif Masood as the official candidate from Bhopal Madhya seat of Bhopal district, right at the Congress state headquarters. The police were rushed to prevent any untoward incident.
A large number of supporters of Sajid Ali raised slogans against Masood and former union minister Suresh Pachouri, who, they alleged, was behind the nomination. Ali’s supporters set the effigy of Pachouri afire inside the MP Congress Committee HQ premises and later voiced their opposition with state media in-charge Shobha Oza.
Later, another group comprising Islam supporters protested at the state party headquarters during which protestors tore posters and banners bearing Pachouri’s picture. Islam had lost from Bhopal Madhya seat to BJP’s Dhruv Narayan Singh by just over 2,500 votes in 2008, while BJP’s sitting MLA Surendranath Singh trounced Masood by over 5,000 votes in 2013.
Importantly, the protests happened just a day after Oza denied any dissent within the party ranks over ticket distribution and mocked the BJP instead. On Tuesday, Oza played down the matter by saying the concerns would be communicated to the leadership.
Meanwhile, supporters of former Congress MLA Sulochana Rawat protested and burnt the effigy of Ratlam-Jhabua MP and former union minister Kantilal Bhuria in Jobat town over Bhuria’s niece Kalawati Bhuria getting the nomination. Rawat or her son Vishal could file nomination as Independent candidate before November 9.