‘Ticket allotment’ angers BJP workers

The Khanpur office Ahmedabad BJP was the scene of a massive midnight drama on Wednesday. Angered by rumours of the city BJP unit having declared their list of candidates for the upcoming civic polls, party members gathered at the office late in the night, and protested the 'unjust' choices.

Officially, the saffron party has not declared its list of candidates for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections yet.
However, on Wednesday, rumours were rife that the party had already given out tickets to certain 'chosen' leaders, particularly in the Isanpur and Ghodasar wards. Workers supposedly 'heard' that people from outside the ward had been awarded tickets.
Influenced by the rumours, furious party workers met at the BJP's office, demanding to know on what basis the tickets had been allotted.

According to sources, party activists said that those allegedly 'given' tickets had hardly worked for the party, while diligent workers had been left out.

Putting forth these 'insights', workers gheraoed city BJP president Rakesh Shah at the Khanpur office, and demanded that the allotment of tickets be re-looked into.

Party members also threatened that in case the needful was not done, they would work against the party during the civic polls, and prevent the BJP from winning.

However, BJP general secretary for the city, Chandraprakash Dave, told DNA that the party has not released their list of candidates yet. "Workers reacted on the basis of what were nothing more than rumours," he said.

However, highly-placed sources revealed that the party, despite no official declaration, has already decided their candidates for 10 to 15 wards in the city, especially in areas where the BJP has always dominated.

Sources added that big names like AMC standing committee head Asit Vora and former mayor Amit Shah, among others, have already been given tickets. These 'inside inputs', are what seem to have caused the furore on Wednesday night.