Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 31: Demanding a local representative, hundreds of supporters and workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest over the announcement of a candidate for the Chhamb Assembly segment for the forthcoming three-phase Assembly elections.
Shouting slogans, the BJP supporters staged a protest in Khour block demanding a local candidate from the Chhamb Assembly constituency; otherwise, they will press ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) on the polling day.
Many BJP workers threatened to act as rebels in the polls, warning that their votes would undermine the party and weaken its position.
The workers were protesting the party’s decision against the fielding of non local candidate and demanded a local person be fielded especially who gave their life and blood to party during last over three decades.
“We have given the option to the party; now the ball is in their court, and it is up to them to decide whether they give our constituency a local candidate or compel us to press NOTA,” said the local BJP leaders.
The BJP has announced Rajeev Sharma as its candidate from the Chhamb Assembly segment.
Carrying placards, “Bahar Ka Pratyashi Nahi Chalega” (outside candidate is not acceptable), “Chhamb Ki Janata Ki Awaz, Local Pratyashi” (local candidate is the voice of Chhamb people), and “Hum Kya Chahte, Local Pratyashi” (we want local representative), hundreds of people from Khour block took out a protest march.
The protestors, including women, demanded that they will accept any of the BJP candidates, but he must be a local (from Chhamb constituency), adding, “We will support only a local candidate, and if the party fails to change the announced candidate, we will not vote in its favour and opt for NOTA.”
The women leaders from the party, expressing resentment, stated that they are upset with the decision on ticket distribution, and if the local candidate will not be given the mandate, they will not be supporting an outsider candidate from the party.
The protestors categorically said that they will not accept outsider candidate as they don’t know him nor he knows anything about the area. They said during his last tenure as MLA he has never visited this area.
The protestors who were sizable number of women carrying National Tricolour in their hands said that the party should field any candidate from the five local candidates given by the people of constituency as an outsider will not be accepted to them.
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