Even as BJP and TDP are on the verge of clinching an alliance, the former is facing a new problem in Telangana. Resentment is brewing among its rank and file over the move to field newcomers in many constituencies ignoring local party men.
Some of the senior leaders, who did not wish to be identified, expressed their dismay at the unilateral manner in which the leadership has decided to give tickets to newcomers, whom they described as “outsiders”. A senior leader without naming anybody criticised the party leadership for giving commitment to some new candidates that they would be fielded, while ignoring loyal party leaders.
“We are the people, who work round-the-clock and are dedicated to the party,” the leader observed, while expressing his resentment over the manner in which the selection of the candidates was done. “Every member of the BJP State Election Committee is dissatisfied,” he added.
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Referring to the elaborate exercise carried out by the party prior to short-listing of the candidates, he said each district committee was asked to submit names of three candidates in the order of preference for every Assembly constituency. In some instances, none of the names given by the committee was considered. “Some weight should have been given to the names suggested by the committee,” he lamented.
Another leader said there were also instances of clearing names of candidates, even before they joined the party. He cited Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad as some of the districts where “outsiders” were being fielded. When the party was contesting less than half the total number of seats, the candidates should be in a position to inspire the cadres. This ‘disturbed’ atmosphere in the party would definitely have some impact on the outcome. “When the party is down or not strong, the effort should be to strengthen it and not create more problems,” he added.