Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress cadres in Uttar Pradesh have taken exception to the selection of candidates with protests and demonstrations.
According to sources, there was a strong resentment among party workers over the tickets given to cricketer Mohammed Kaif from Phulpur and Bhojpuri film star Ravi Kishen from Jaunpur.
Senior leaders have also opposed the selection of candidates from the Mohanlal Ganj and Sitapur Lok Sabha constituencies.
Scores of Congress workers staged a demonstration wielding black flags in front of Kaif’s residence in Allahabad on Thursday. “We are not against Kaif but we want someone who can nurse the area. Kaif may be a star, but he will not do anything for the constituency,” said a Congress worker.
Similarly a large number of Congress workers held a demonstration at Jaunpur in protest against Ravi Kishen’s candidature. “We are against candidates who are dropped by parachute. Ravi Kishen’s ticket should be withdrawn,” demanded a district Congress leader.
Senior Congress leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Ammar Rizvi openly opposed the candidature of Vaishali Ali from Sitapur. “Though I am not in the race, the party should have fielded someone local from Sitapur,” Rizvi said.
State Congress general secretary Shyamlal Pujari was expelled from the party after he staged a dharna before the party office. Pujari alleged that old and loyal party workers had been ignored by the leadership. Union minister Beni Prasad Verma, too, criticised the selection formula for the Lok Sabha candidates.
Congress leaders, however, expressed confidence that they will be able to persuade the workers to support official candidates. “Some dissent is natural but we are all united,” said Congress leaders.
In the 2009 general elections, the Congress won 21 seats from Uttar Pradesh. The party has declared candidates for 71 seats, leaving the nine remaining seats for its allies.
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