R'than BJP discord now out in open

MLA beaten, disciplinary action sought

The incident of an alleged misbehaviour with senior BJP legislator Ghanshyam Tiwari at a party function has invited trouble for the top leadership of the ruling party in Rajasthan.

The matter has got the attention of the national leadership; they have sought an explanation from state party chief over the entire incident.

Despite being considered strong opponents of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, three senior cabinet ministers and several party workers have come out in support of Tiwari, demanding action against those who misbehaved with the senior party leader.

A day before, national vice president of the party Om Mathur held a meeting with Ghanshyam Tiwari and gave a factual report of the incident to the party high command.

Mathur said the party is doing good work in the country and such incidents would not be tolerated. “Tiwari is a senior party leader and we will not tolerate such incident. I will speak to the state party chief and ensure that the party takes strong action,” said Mathur.

Earlier, Tiwari was allegedly shoved and manhandled when he had gone to attend a block-level party workers’ training programme in Sanganer constituency along with his supporters. Tiwari was to address the concluding session of the training programme, but was denied entry to the venue by supporters of Jaipur MP Ramcharan Bohra.

Party workers allegedly misbehaved with Tiwari, leading to a hairline fracture in his hand.
Education Minister Kalicharan Saraf, Forest Minister Rajkumar Rinwa and Food Minister Hem Singh Bhadana have demanded strong action by the party high command.

Bohra’s supporters including mandal president and councillors met the state president to brief him about the incident. Mandal president Indra Rao Satlani said nobody misbehaved with Tiwari nor was he injured.

Bohra’s supporters handed over a video CD of the event to Parnami and claimed that it was an outburst of locals of Sanganer over no development in the area.

Rajasthan Brahmin Mahasabhan has also threatened to launch a state-wide protest against the attack. Mahasabhan chief Subhash Parashar said there is huge resentment among the Brahmin community on how their senior leaders were being insulted in public.
 
“The top leadership in the state BJP has always ensured to marginalise Tiwari. Now,
Tiwari was attacked on a public platform. If disciplinary action was not taken against people responsible for the act, we will hold state-wide protest,” said Subhash Parashar.

The opposition Congress also politicised the issue and said Tiwari is a CM candidate and the attack on him is a conspiracy by his opponents (Raje).

“Tiwari is the senior-most leader in Rajasthan BJP. He is seen as a chief ministerial candidate. The incident was aimed at damaging his image. His opponents do not want to see him as CM of Rajasthan,” said Ashok Gehlot, former chief minister of Rajasthan.