BJP Candidate Accuses Party Leaders of Sabotage in Anta Bypoll Defeat
In a significant development within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan, Morpal Suman, the party's candidate in the recent Anta Assembly bypoll, has leveled serious allegations of internal sabotage against senior leaders, including Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota MP Om Birla. The accusations come two months after Suman's defeat in the crucial election, highlighting deepening fissures within the state unit.
Allegations of Direct and Indirect Campaigning Against Party Candidate
In a detailed letter addressed to BJP's Baran district president Naresh Singh Sikarwar, Suman has claimed that Om Birla's entire team worked "directly and indirectly" to campaign against him. He alleged that Birla's associates distributed substantial sums of money to influential leaders in Baran district, actively influencing voters in favor of Congress candidate Pramod Jain Bhaya.
The Anta Assembly constituency shares its border with Kota, which Om Birla represents in the Lok Sabha, making these allegations particularly sensitive within party circles.
Multiple Leaders Named in Conspiracy Claims
Suman's letter, which has been marked to top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former party president J P Nadda, current party chief Nitin Nabin, and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, names several individuals:
- Anand Garg, former district president
- Prakhar Kaushal, Anta Pradhan, and his team
- Rameshwar Khandelwal, former Anta Nagar Palika chairperson, and his team
- Dharmendra Yadav, Baran panchayat samiti up-pradhan, and his team
- Manoj Sharma, business partner of Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar
- Three district MLAs: Pratap Singh Singhvi, Lalit Meena, and Radheshyam Bairwa
Suman claimed that these leaders collectively attempted to defeat him because they feared his potential appointment as a minister if he won against the Congress candidate.
Context of the Bypoll and Broader Party Discord
The Anta bypoll saw Congress candidate Pramod Jain Bhaya secure victory with 69,571 votes, defeating Suman by a margin of 15,612 votes. Interestingly, Congress rebel Naresh Meena finished a close third with 53,800 votes, just 159 votes behind Suman's 53,959.
This defeat has exposed broader discontent within the BJP's Rajasthan unit. Seven-time BJP MLA Pratap Singh Singhvi had previously complained about being ignored during campaigning, despite his Chhabra constituency being in Baran district. He had written to then BJP president J P Nadda about his exclusion from star campaigner lists.
Furthermore, ministers Heeralal Nagar and Madan Dilawar, who hail from the region, notably abstained from campaigning. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje eventually led the campaign after initial hesitation, indicating the party's internal challenges.
Suman's Background and Call for Disciplinary Action
Before the bypoll, Morpal Suman held various positions within the party and belongs to the influential Mali community in the region. His proximity to the RSS and relatively low profile were considered key factors in his candidacy from Anta.
In his letter, Suman has urged the party leadership to take "disciplinary action against all of them for acting against the party." He also criticized the Election Commission observer for alleged unfairness, claiming that the Congress candidate and independent candidate extensively used horse-drawn vehicles, elephants, and DJ vehicles during campaigning.
This controversy emerges at a critical juncture for the BJP in Rajasthan, potentially impacting party unity and strategy ahead of future elections.
