On his first visit to the city after being named the BJP candidate from Patna Sahib, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was on Tuesday shown black flags by alleged supporters of another party leader.
Mr. Prasad, a resident of the Bihar capital whose late father was a State Minister and leader of the Jansangh, was shown black flags by the alleged supporters of R.K. Sinha, a Rajya Sabha member, who was hopeful of ticket for the seat which is currently held by the dissident party MP and actor Shatrughan Sinha.
The Union Minister drove away while telling the posse of media persons who stood waiting at the airport, “I thank my party for considering me for this great responsibility. I will be giving my best shot. The BJP's commitment to nationalism and good governance will help Narendra Modi return to power.”
As supporters of Mr. Prasad and Mr. Sinha shoved each other and exchanged blows, they were quelled by security personnel deployed at the airport, though it was not known if any of them were detained.
Mr. Sinha is the founder of a prominent private security provider in the country and belongs to Kayastha community, to which Mr. Prasad and Mr. Shatrughan Sinha also belong.
An office-bearer of the Akhil Bharatiya Kayastha Mahasabha had recently come out with a statement saying that the community which has remained steadfast with the BJP post-Mandal would not vote for Mr. Prasad and that only R.K. Sinha was acceptable to it as a candidate.
Mr. Shatrughan Sinha, who is completing his second consecutive Lok Sabha term, is expected to be fielded as a candidate of the opposition “Mahagathbandhan” comprising the RJD, the Congress and other smaller parties.
