Chhattisgarh polls: Three more MLAs fail to figure in BJP’s second list

Party denies ticket to total 13 legislators

Raipur, October 28

Making evident that performance is the only benchmark to obtain ticket for its sitting MLAs, the ruling BJP has ignored candidature of three more legislators while releasing second list of 21 candidates for upcoming polls in Chhattisgarh. The party has by far denied ticket to total 13 sitting MLAs out of 50 in 90-member State legislative assembly.

According to information, the three MLAs Phoolchand Singh from Bharatpur-Sonhat, Neelima Singh Tekam from Doundi Lohara and Dr siyaram Sahu from Kawadha were found inappropriate for ticket because they had not only lost connection with local party workers but also common mass.

With its first list featuring 67 names, the party has announced 88 candidates while names for two seats, i.e. Sitapur and Vaishalinagar will be finalised in next couple of days.

In the second list, the party has featured 11 new faces. The number of youth in the list is 12. The party’s first list contained 34 youth including 20 fresh faces. Apparently, the party aims to maintain its winning streak against Congress by pitting total 51% youth and 34% new faces in polls.  

However, the party once again showed reluctance in distributing sufficient tickets to females. The number of women candidates in its second list is just five while six had been announced in the first installment. The total ticket share of women in the party is merely 12%. Senior leader Karuna Shukla, who has recently resigned from BJP, too had pointed that the party simply boasts of giving fare share to females, but none had been appointed as general secretary or secretary in state organisation.

The second list further comprises of five ST and one SC candidates. The party had earlier given tickets to 23 ST, nine SC and 17 OBC candidates. By far, the reserved candidates have got 61% tickets in BJP.

The new MLAs who got ticket are Roshan Lal Aggarwal, Raigarh; Sameera Paikra, Marwahi (ST); Chunnilal Sahu, Khallari; Naveen Markande, Arang (SC); Sharvan Markam, Sihawa (ST); Dr Jawahar Nayak, Kharsia   ; Dr Kailash Sahu, Jaijaipur; Champadevi Pavel, Bharatpur-Sonhat (ST); Moti Ram Chandravanshi, Pandariya; Shyamlal Maravi, Pali Tanakhar (ST) and Horilal Ravate, Doundi Lahara (ST).

The sitting MLAs who managed to obtain berth are Renuka Singh, Premnagar; Rajni Tripathi, Bhatgaon and Narayan Chandel, Jajgir-Champa.

The party also gave chance to four former MLAs - Punam Chandrakar, Mahasamund; Shivratan Sharma, Bhatapara; Inder Chopra, Dhamtari and Ramsheela Sahu, Durg Rural.        

Besides, the second list contains party’s old warriors Santosh Upadhyay, Rajim; Ashok Sahu, Kawardha and Avdhesh Chandel, Bemetara.