Rumble in State BJP on ticket issue
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 18 2013: Even though success by the BJP in the recently held Assembly elections in some northern States are being considered as propitious for the revival of the party in Manipur, race for BJP ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections particularly in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency has been undermining the new found hope.

According to some party workers State unit president Th Chaoba allegedly favouring a particular individual out of three BJP ticket aspirants has been impeding the political organisation from capitalising on the 'wave' of the party's electoral successes in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Noting that a particular individual has been constantly present and even addressing ongoing political conferences attended by Th Chaoba at different locations of the State, the party workers cautioned that such partisan attitude by the party chief amounts to betraying trust of State unit functionaries and workers who had been loyal to the political organisation for the past many years.

Mention may be made that retired Army Colonel Ch Joyraj, Dr RK Ranjan and Oinam Indira are not only in the race for the BJP ticket but have already launched campaigns for the Lok Sabha polls.

Inspite of Th Chaoba seemingly favouring a particular individual, the party's fortune in the coming election might suffer a severe blow in case central party leaders do not endorse Chaoba's choice, observed the workers with the assertion that by the time the candidate is finalised there is possibility of disarray in the campaigning programme due to time constraint.

Suggesting that the party president provide equal opportunity to all three ticket aspirants pending final decision of the central leaders, they also maintained that the State unit remaining compact and vibrant ahead of the Lok Sabha polls depend on the party chief's conduct and political wisdom.

Reacting on the matter, Th Chaoba welcoming BJP loyalists in strengthening the party organisation also asserted that the party cannot help those individuals who consider that fighting the Lok Sabha election as BJP nominee is secondary.

Clarifying that there is no formal notification with regard to inviting application for party tickets along with conveying that it is the prerogative of the party's high command, and not him, to select party candidates for elections, he also confided that a meeting of CMs of BJP-ruled States, unit presidents and top central leaders scheduled for December 24 will deliberate on party's strategies for the Lok Sabha elections as well as identify candidates certain to win the people's mandate.

He further exuded confidence that the candidate recommended/finalised at the upcoming party's session will be acceptable to the people of Manipur and emerge victories.

Comment