Pats Capt Abhimanyu, alerts CM aspirants

“I have performed all responsibilities assigned to me by the party with utmost dedication and am ready for the same in thefuture,” he said. Abhimanyu is a Jatleader and until Birender Singh joined the party, he was among the two contenders for chief ministerial post along with Om Prakash Dhankar. Both however remain at loggerheads. Dhankar was the only BJP candidate to lose in the recent Lok Sabha elections and he had alleged that Abhimanyu did not do enough to ensure his victory. Dhankar was fielded from Rohtak, a seat which Abhimanyu had lost twice to the Hoodas. Abhimanyu is from to Rohtak and has his influence in the constituency.

The latest addition to this race is Birender Singh, who changed his loyalty to the BJP hoping to capture the top chair. While Shah had promised to honour Birender, things have not been going smoothly for the former Congress leader as he has not
even been fielded in the assembly polls despite openly expressing a desire to contest from Kaithal or Jind assembly segments.
Besides Birender, the other chief ministerial contenders have lost interest in campaigning after their kin were denied tickets.

Union Minister Rao Inderjit sought a ticket for his daughter Aarti Rao from Rewari while Bhiwnai- Mahendergarh MP Dharambir sought one for his brother at Tosham, Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar sought a ticket for his son at Tigaon and Tonk MP Sukhbir Jaunpuira wanted a ticket for his brother at Sohna. The party decided against giving handing tickets to relatives of leaders with the exception of Union Minister Sushma Swaraj whose sister Vandana Sharma was given ticket from Safidon.

“We would not have beenaggrieved had the party did not give tickets to Prem Lata and Vandana Sharma. It certainly hampered our enthusiasm,” said a leader who was seeking ticket for his kin.