Party falls apart, Uma can’t hold

At a press meet today, Uma expressed pain that ‘‘the letter was leaked from within. It only reached four or five people.”

The strongest opposition surfaced in Dhar where HJM activists, who had spearheaded the Bhojshala/Kamal Maula masjid agitation, accused Verma of being in league with Digvijay Singh to weaken Hindu aspiration in Dhar. The HJM has got the support of two BJP MLAs being fielded from other constituencies in the district and has declared that they will put up their own candidates by November 13 if the BJP does not drop the Verma candidates.

Incidentally, the activists have absolved Uma of all blame and have said that she tried to do her best for their cause. In Bhojpur, the sitting BJP MLA has alleged the decision to field Patwa’s nephew Surendra is an attempt at dynastic control. Patwa today said if all seven claimants, other than his nephew, for the seat agreed on a common name, Surendra would withdraw from the fray.

Nepotism was also the theme in Gwalior where Angre, who accused the party of sacrificing ideology and principles, was present at the formation of the ‘BJP bachao’ front. The front is a gathering mainly of Maharashtrian leaders opposed to the decision of the PM’s nephew Anup Mishra to shift from Lashkar West to East, denying Vivek Shejwalkar a ticket.

Party organising general secretary Kaptan Singh Solanki sought to make light of the current dissidence. Speaking to the media today, he said: Vipaksh mein reh ke party walon ko putla jalane ki aadat pad gai hai (Being in Opposition, the party has got into the habit of government bashing).’’