Rift in Ayodhya BJP out in open as former Faizabad MP leaves event in a huff: ‘Will not share dais with mafia’

The press conference was held on Wednesday a day before Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s scheduled visit to Ayodhya where the BJP is making all-out efforts to win the Milkipur Assembly seat. The CM himself has taken charge of the constituency and even some ministers have been asked to camp there.

Shivendra Singh, the party worker who Lallu Singh referred to as a ‘mafia’, hit out at him, attributing the party’s defeat from the parliamentary constituency to a “will change the Constitution” remark the former MP had made ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He also pointed to Lallu’s alleged association with people with criminal background in the past.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Lallu Singh maintained this would not have any impact on the coming Assembly bypolls but many leaders feel that the party would have to sort out such differences before more daggers are drawn.

He said, “It is not about being sidelined. Who will sideline me? It is about decorum and discipline. I had reached the press conference before time and was sitting with journalists. Then some party leaders arrived and headed towards the dais. I saw some wrong people sitting there. I did not deem it fit to sit with such people with criminal background, so I decided to leave quietly.”

He further said, “Discipline and decorum are a must for the party. I have been working for the party’s ideology for years as a disciplined worker. The party’s district unit should be careful about this. Or else, the party will have to pay the price.”

Shivendra Singh, district president of the Block Pramukh Association, said he was long associated with the BJP as a member. “I was present on the dais that day. I have long been associated with him in elections but he never had a problem. I think his statement could be a reflection of his advancing age. It was because of his Constitution remark that the party faced a defeat. He has had photographs with me and with people facing even more serious cases. He should first clarify his criteria for calling someone a mafia,” he said.

Shivendra added he has been a student leader and also worked for the party’s ideology for years.

BJP district president Sanjeev Singh said there is a certain way of raising the party’s internal issues.

The Milkipur Assembly seat fell vacant after then MLA Awadhesh Prasad was fielded in the Lok Sabha polls.