Differences in BJP come out in the open ; Axe Chaoba, demands women
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 19 2014: Disenchantment in the State BJP organisation over ticket allotment for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency came to the fore today with a group of women accusing party's State president Thounaojam chaoba of violating party constitution by recommending a particular individual for the BJP ticket out of four ticket aspirants for the inner seat.

Denouncing alleged indiscretionary power exercised by Th Chaoba in recommending the name of Dr RK Ranjan as the BJP nominee for the Lok Sabha election in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency the women protestors raising slogans at the Nityaipat Chuthek office of the BJP Manipur pradesh today demanded resignation of Chaoba as the State unit president.

Even as the women protestors stormed the Nityaipat Chuthek office some among the inner seat ticket seekers rushed to New Delhi and met party's national president Rajnath Singh and former president Nitin Gadkari to demand suitable action against Th chaoba for the latter's alleged unconstitutional conduct.

Axe Chaoba, demands women

For the upcoming elections, three individuals are in the race to contest the Lok Sabha election in the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency while there are four BJP ticket aspirants in the inner seat.

The four include Dr RK Ranjan, Oinam Indira Devi, Col (Retd) Ch Joyraj and Lt Col (Retd) RK Rajendra.

According to source in the State BJP, of the four ticket aspirants Th chaoba recommended Dr Ranjan in a missive sent yesterday to the central party leaders.

It is said that as per BJP constitution a State unit president cannot recommend name of party candidate(s) for the Lok Sabha elections.

at an earlier media briefing Th Chaoba claimed that as decided at the joint meeting of party's core committee and State election committee detailed information about the four ticket aspirants including their respective bio-data and feedback from party functionaries and workers have been forwarded to the central leaders for necessary perusal and selection of candidate.

The State party chief had also informed newspersons that prior to forwarding details of the four ticket aspirants consultation meetings were held with functionaries of kendra committees, district presidents, Morchas, office bearers, core committee and State election committee.

When contacted Chaoba denied the charge that name of Dr RK Ranjan was recommended by him yesterday.

According to some of the ticket aspirants who apprised the development in the State party's organisation to Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari this afternoon, the joint meeting of core committee and State election committee had actually decided to forward relevant details of all four BJP ticket seekers to the party's national parliamentary board.

Informing that it is the prerogative of the Board members to decide on whom to allot the party ticket for parliamentary elections, the ticket aspirants contended that recommending Dr RK Ranjan's name by Th Chaoba without the knowledge or approval of the committees not only amounts to the State unit president exercising indiscretionary power but is also violation of party constitution.

Voicing strong opposition against Chaoba's conduct, they asserted that they have apprised the matter to the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma swaraj and former party president LK Advani and demand suitable action against Th Chaoba.

BJP National Secretary (Organisation) reportedly told State BJP members that the recommendations of RK Ranjan was just a personal opinion and the final decision will be taken by the National Parliamentary Board and appealed to all to stop the infighting.

back at Nityaipat Chuthek, the women protestors holding placards in denunciation of State unit president's anti-constitutional conduct and favouritism raised slogans demanding his resignation from the post of presidentship.

Significantly, Th Chaoba was in his office room during the nearly hour long protest by the womenfolk from various parts of the State.

Even though a number of State unit party functionaries were at the office complex none were willing to comment on the issue when approached by media persons.

Highlighting that they have no objection if names of all the four ticket aspirants are forwarded and their fate decided by the national parliamentary board, the protestors reiterated their demand for Chaoba's removal from the top post.