‘In a surprise move, BJP will field its 2nd candidate’

Jaipur: BJP State President Dr Satish Poonia said that the Congress has sent 3 ‘empty cartridges’ to Rajasthan as making candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections. “Due to this there is great displeasure among the MLAs, Congress leaders and party workers as well as other parties. That’s why BJP will field its second candidate. An in-principle agreement has been reached on this in the party’s core committee. All BJP MLAs have been called to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly today. The nomination of RS candidate Ghanshyam Tiwari will also be filled during this period. All prominent leaders will become his proposers. By that time the second candidate will be announced. In addition, the priority of votes will also be decided,” Poonia said on Monday. Interestingly, Vasundhara Raje, Gulab Chand Kataria, Satish Poonia, Rajendra Rathore and others are set to be Tiwari’s proposers. Ghanshyam Tiwari will file nomination today between 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM according to the auspicious time for nomination.

The state chief said that BJP’s 1 seat is confirmed. “Like last time, a candidate will be contested on the second seat and Independents and MLAs of other parties have been contacted. Supporting the government is one thing and voting in the Rajya Sabha is another. Now is the right time to express your anger against the government in the form of voting. They should do this democratically. We have not started this practice. Even at the time of Indira Gandhi, decisions were made on the voice of conscience. If this happens in Rajasthan too, what is the problem,” he said.

The BJP state president said that the party’s ‘camp’ will also start from 2-3 days before the elections to be held on June 10. While targeting the Congress government he said that the state government has more resources so it can hold the ‘badabandi’ for a longer duration.

Talking to the media at Assembly Gate, Poonia said, “Because there were many capable people in Congress party in Rajasthan. Those who weren’t given tickets, ST community members, people from different geographical and social classes were demanding a RS ticket and Congress party should have respected them. But Congress sent ‘empty cartridges’ to Rajasthan who have no history of their own. It may also be that Rahul Gandhi has become an expert in losing elections. So he gathered a similar congregation. Accordingly, the candidates will be decided. Such is the choice of Rahul Gandhi. What can you do in that,” he said.

Meanwhile, LoP GC Kataria said, “We have 30 votes, will try for 11 votes. We will come up with another candidate after discussion. We will decide about another candidate.”