Satpal Brahmachari’s supporters protest denial of ticket

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 22

Supporters of Satpal Brahamchari, former municipal chairperson yesterday staged a protest after the Congress gave ticket to senior party leader Brahmaswarup Brahmachari from the Haridwar city constituency. Satpal was the runner-up in the last Assembly elections from the constituency.

Brahmaswarup Brahmachari, while addressing mediapersons here, claimed that he had been assured of the ticket. This angered Satpal Brahmachari’s supporters who held a protest march up to the Jai Ram Ashram gate, the ashram-cum-residence of spiritual guru Brahmaswarup Brahmachari.

Seeing Satpal’s supporters, Brahamswarup’s associates also started raising slogans of victory for him, leading to a heated argument between them.

Satpal Brahmachari didn’t meet mediapersons at the ashram though his supporters claimed that he felt hurt that the Congress leadership had assured Brahmaswarup of ticket from the Haridwar city segment.

They said that last time Satpal Brahmachari had given a tough fight to three-time BJP legislator Madan Kaushik and he had been working hard in the constituency for the past five years.

Brahmaswarup Brahmachari rejected the charge of Satpal’s supporters saying he knows the latter very well and it was anger of some people who don’t want the Congress to get strengthened in the district.

He said party national vice-president Rahul Gandhi had assured him of ticket and told him to start preparations for the elections. He would perform rituals at Har-ki-Pauri tomorrow morning in this regard.

Mahangar Congress spokesperson Anurag Sharma also confirmed that the party has granted ticket to Brahmaswarup Brahmachari. He said senior party leader Pradeep Chaudhary brought nomination form for Brahmaswarup Brahmachari yesterday.