Haryana Assembly elections: BJP's second list of candidates sparks new discontent as it drops ministers, sitting MLAs
Haryana Assembly elections: BJP sparked discontent within its ranks on Tuesday after announcing the second list of 21 candidates for the Haryana assembly elections, which dropped seven sitting legislators, including two ministers and state party president Mohan Lal Badoli.
Shiv Kumar Mehta, a state unit executive member, resigned immediately and informed Mohan Lal Badoli of his decision. Mehta was a ticket aspirant for the Narnaul seat and was disappointed when the party chose Om Prakash Yadav. "I've been working for the party for 45 years. They kept ignoring me, asking me to prepare for the next time. Now I have quit the party and will focus on social service,” Mehta was quoted as saying.
Satyavrat Shastri, the Haryana BJP spokesperson, has also left the party's primary membership. He said that the party has strayed from its values and is being influenced by persons who have opposing views.
Seema Trikha, the school education minister and Badkhal MLA, was denied a ticket and replaced by Dhanesh Adlakha, while Banwari Lal, the health minister and Bawal MLA, was replaced by Krishna Kumar.
Trikha was the only female minister in the BJP cabinet led by CM Nayab Singh Saini. She won Badkhal by defeating Congress candidates Vijay Pratap Singh and Mahendra Pratap Singh in the 2019 and 2014 elections, respectively.
State President Mohan Lal Badoli, who earlier said that he would not run in the October 5 assembly elections in order to ensure the party's victory, has been replaced by Krishna Gehlawat for the Rai seat in Sonipat district.
- With inputs from agencies
