Bhan’s supporters allege apathy

AMBALA, Aug 26: Feeling neglected by the local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit office bearers, supporters of Uttar Pradesh Governor Sur...

AMBALA, Aug 26: Feeling neglected by the local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit office bearers, supporters of Uttar Pradesh Governor Suraj Bhan have openly accused the leadership of not taking them into confidence for carrying out the poll campaign in favour of party candidate Rattan Lal Kataria from the Ambala (reserved) Lok Sabha seat.

They aired their protest through a press release issued here yesterday, alleging that these leaders had done so to tarnish the image of Suraj Bhan, who had been denied party ticket from this seat by the party that had brought in Ratan Lal Kataria to contest from the Lok Sabha constituency represented and nursed by Bhan.

Alleging continued neglect of pro-Suraj Bhan faction, the former BJP Yuva Morcha president Anil Verma said most of the activists including former district general secretary Darshna Nand, district executive members Anil Mittal, Harigopal Mittal, Shiv Lal Chawla, Nand Lal Vohra, Ram Lal, Deepa Mehta, Akhilesh Mittal and others were kept aloof by the cantonment unit president K.D. Sharma.

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He said it is important that the party workers be taken into confidence regarding all party decisions.

Similar sentiments came to the fore in the district-level meeting chaired by Ambala constituency in charge, Purushotam Deshmukh, at the party central office here last night. Cantonment Board vice-president Pirthi Singh Totarwal assailed the working of unit president Sharma as the party had failed to mobilise people to attend a public meeting addressed by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, which proved to be flop show. He said if Sharma was unable to manage the affairs well, he should resign from his post.

However, while denying the allegation levelled against him, K.D. Sharma said he had no authority to neglect Bhan’s supporters or to allot work at the district level. He said these party workers should approach the district unit leadership regarding the issue. Explaining the shortcomings at the public meeting to be addressed by Dhumal, he said there was no definite time of his arrival which caused the entire mix up and disturbed the show. However, the district in charge, Deshmukh, has appealed to the partymen to remain calm and peaceful for organised campaigning in favour of the party candidate.