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Discontent in M.P. Congress over denial of tickets

Bhopal: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh’s appeal to party workers to forget their differences and work for the party’s victory in Madhya Pradesh notwithstanding, simmering discontent among leaders over denial of tickets has started surfacing.

Many are either switching to other parties or contesting as Independents in the November 27 Assembly elections.

Mr. Singh, who was State chief minister for 10 years, on Thursday urged the Congress activists to work unitedly for the party nominees and ensure the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s defeat. “All of us know that everyone can’t be made a nominee.

Those who did not get tickets may be pained but this is the time for us to forget all our differences and work for the formation of a Congress government in the State,” he said.

But no sooner did Mr.Singh issue the statement than reports came of party leader Manvendra Singh, a former minister, quitting the party and deciding to contest as an Independent.

Mr. Manvendra Singh, who was minister in the Digvijay Singh government, wanted to contest either from Maharajpur or Bijawar constituency, in Chhattarpur district. After the Congress denied him tickets from both places, he decided to quit the party.

On Wednesday, two party leaders crossed over to other parties - Congress spokesman Mukesh Nayak joined Uma Bharati’s Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) party while Shankar Pratap Singh is contesting from Rajnagar in Chhattarpur on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket.

Party leaders are angry at State Congress chief Suresh Pachouri, especially after reports that he was able to corner tickets for a majority of his group in the second list of candidates.-IANS

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Discontent in M.P. Congress over denial of tickets

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