PATNA: In a major embarrassment to the BJP ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar, its MP from Ara and former union home secretary R K Singh on Saturday accused his own party leaders of selling party tickets to criminals. Senior party leaders were quick to term it a baseless allegation.
“Criminals have been given tickets even before they joined the party. This is injustice not only to sincere party workers but also to the people of Bihar. Some people have sold tickets. What is this? How will we get clean administration?” asked an angry Singh.
Questioning the party’s promise of providing a clean administration, he said, “You have given tickets to criminals. How can you provide clean administration after coming into power? It’s not that only criminals can win elections in Bihar.” He went on to wonder, “If it happens in our party, then what is the difference between us and Lalu Prasad?”
The BJP senior leadership swung into action immediately in a damage control exercise. “In BJP, wherever there is ticket distribution, it is done fairly and after considering all aspects. As far as Bihar is concerned, the BJP-led NDA will win a comfortable majority,” said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Dismissing the allegation, senior BJP leader Sushil Modi said, “This is not new. In every election, we face this kind of allegations by those who fail to get party ticket. Our (BJP’s) system is very transparent.”
RK Singh, however, ended up giving enough ammunition to the party’s political rivals in the highly-charged election mood in the state. “The serious allegations made by BJP MP and former home secretary R K Singh have revealed the true character of BJP,” Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said, at his first election rally in Kalyanpur constituency, Samastipur district.
Meanwhile, LJP leader Chirag Paswan said RK Singh’s allegations will not have any impact on the NDA’s prospects in the state as he named 11 more party candidates for the Assembly elections. The LJP is yet to announce names for eight of its 40 seats. “I agree with R K Singh’s concern that people with criminal background should not be getting tickets. Such people must be stopped from entering politics and all parties should make efforts for this,” he said at a press conference.
‘True colours of bjp revealed’
Bihar Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar on Saturday took a swipe at the BJP after the latter’s MP RK Singh’s sensational allegations. “The serious allegations made by BJP MP and former home secretary R K Singh have revealed the true character of the BJP,” Kumar said, at his first election rally in Kalyanpur constituency.