Relief for BJP as 4 rebels withdraw nomination papers in Ahirwal

The BJP has heaved a sigh of relief after its four senior leaders in Mahendragarh and Rewari districts of Ahirwal withdrew their nomination papers. All these were miffed at not being nominated as its candidate by the party from their respective Assembly constituency.

Those who withdrew nominations papers include former Deputy Vidhan Sabha Speaker and BJP state vice-president Santosh Yadav from Ateli, BJP Mahila Morcha district chief and former chairperson of Narnaul Municipal Council Bharti Saini from Narnaul, former Mahendragarh BJP district chief Shiv Kumar Mehta from Narnaul and Former BJP Kisan Morcha state general secretary Rampal Yadav from Kosli (Rewari).

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had visited the district yesterday to pacify the party rebels. He held a meeting with Bharti and other people of the Saini Community in Narnaul town and convinced her to withdraw her nomination papers.

The CM also met BJP veteran Ram Bilas Sharma at his residence. However, Sharma has already announced that he would respect the party’s decision of fielding its former district chief Kanwar Singh Yadav in place of him from Mahendragarh.

“Nayab Singh Saini is not only a chief minister but also top leader of my community hence I today withdrew my nominations in his respect,” said Bharti.

Santosh Yadav was one of the strong aspirants for the BJP ticket from Ateli where the BJP has fielded Arti Singh Rao, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh. Enraged by the decision, she not only resigned from the party but also filed her nomination paper as an Independent candidate from there.

“I have withdrawn my nomination papers on my wish. However, the BJP senior leaders also contacted me for the same,” Santosh told The Tribune.

Similarly, Shiv Kumar Mehta was vying for the BJP ticket from Narnaul. He resigned from the post of member of the state executive of the party immediately after the party announced that it would pit sitting MLA Om Prakash Yadav from here.

“I have withdrawn my nomination on behalf of the people of the Narnaul Assembly constituency hence I will decide my role in the elections after discussing with them and my supporters,” said Mehta.

In Rewari, BJP rebel Rampal Yadav withdrew his nomination from Kosli where the saffron party had fielded Anil Dahina, a loyalist of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh.

Vandana Popli, BJP district president, Rewari, said Yadav had withdrawn his nomination in respect of the party high command. “Everyone has the right to contest the election but the party can field only one candidate from one constituency,” she added.