Patna: The ongoing battle for poll tickets in Bihar has turned violent in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). With the BJP already announcing the names of candidates for the Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, the anger of those missing the party tickets is now spilling out on the streets, bringing huge embarrassment to the party in the run-up to the polls.
On Monday, angry supporters of two top party leaders, Ravishankar Prasad and RK Sinha, both Rajya Sabha Members, fought a pitched battle outside the Patna airport, attacking each other with fists and shoes. Security forces had to battle hard to bring the situation under control.
As such, both the leaders were in the race for the ticket for the prestigious Patna Sahib constituency currently being held by rebel party actor-turned-parliamentarian Shatrughan Sinha, also known as Shotgun. After much deliberation, the party leadership finally gave the poll ticket to the federal Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad to take on the mighty Shotgun. But the very move has caused rebellion within the party instead.
On Monday, as Prasad reached the Patna airport, a large number of party workers from the RK camp waved black flags and shouted slogans such as “Ravi Shankar Prasad Go Back”. The protest irked the minister’s supporters so much that they attacked the opposition ruthlessly. For a moment, the airport areas looked to have been converted into a battlefield with both sides attacking each other.
Sources said RK, founder of the Security and Intelligence Services, a private security agency, was far ahead in the race for the party ticket. His caste group, All India Kayashtha Community, also threw its weight behind him, but eventually he lost to Prasad. Curiously, none have contested Lok Sabha polls in the past.
Trouble began after Shotgun turned a rebel. The Bollywood-actor-politician has been winning this seat since 2009 after delimitation. After his move, the party wanted to field someone who could give a suitable fight to the party rebel and it was this challenge which prompted the BJP to settle for Prasad.
However, the fight looks tough for the party given the prevailing dissent within the party over ticket distribution and the way the rival party leaders’ supporters are clashing in public. As of now, Shotgun looks stronger compared to the BJP candidate given his fan base across the community, his experience in politics, influence over caste-mates and the backing of the Grand Alliance. Although he is yet to join the Grand Alliance, there is no dispute between the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) over his candidature.
