JAIPUR, Jan 17: A bitter tussle is on as the BJP prepares its list of candidates for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan. Having welcomed and taken in members from other parties, it is now finding it difficult to now accommodate them all.State BJP president Raghuvir Singh Kaushal has said that the list would be declared in a day or two after the high command's approval. However, this may not be a complete list, as the party is still hoping to rope in a few Congressmen before deciding on the seats.
The BJP has already managed to get two Congress MLAs, Ramnarayan Dudi and Richhpal Mirdha. According to reports, the criminal cases pending against one and the charges against the other's son-in-law provided the motivating factor.
Ironically, invitations such as these may now prove troublesome for the BJP. While taking new members in, the party had its eye on long-term gains. Now, it is facing increasing conflicts in the short run.
In Alwar, former MP Mahendra Kumari of the local royal family has been
displeased with the BJP's preference for Jaswant Yadav, who left the Congress to join the party in 1996. Kumari has now threatened to contest as a rebel in Alwar. She has said she would also campaign against the BJP in Kota. Unless she or Yadav agrees to an MLA ticket and withdraws, the resultant clash could do much damage to the BJP.
For Bikaner, the party, after much stalling, decided on sitting MP Mahendra Singh Bhati. The BJP wanted to change its candidate this time but was unable to find a suitable nominee, especially with Balram Jakhar being tipped to be the Congress choice. The party strategy now could be to let Bhati -- he and his father have had a running feud with BJP Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's son-in-law -- meet his waterloo.
For Barmer, the BJP has reportedly decided on Lokendra Singh Kalvi, who left the Samajwadi Party (SP) last year to back the party's Bhanu Prakash Mirdha -- son of the late Nathu Ram Mirdha -- in the Nagaur by-election. Kalvi's role was crucial in the close
contest, which the BJP won by less than 2,000 votes. He, therefore, had to be accommodated, despite protests from even a central leader. However, the BJP's candidate for Nagaur this time is a newcomer, Richhpal Mirdha.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
