New Delhi, Mar 22: The tussle and drama over party tickets is not a new story to hit headlines. But amid all these hotch-potch of dirty politics Odia Pua Baijayant Panda’s hope for getting a Rajya Sabha ticket from Assam withered like never before where, he dreamt of a advent of a more focused political career.
All hopes of Jay Panda to secure his berth in Rajya Sabha was shattered. Notably, there were two seats for the Rajya Sabha from Assam which ultimately lit a sparkle of hope within Panda. For this, Baijayant has been lobbying from Delhi to Guwahati.
The party had also somehow hinted of sending Jay to Rajya Sabha from Assam, but these proved to be day dreams yet to be fulfilled as the party could not show confidence on the veteran leader.
Amid this what can be remembered is a statement from former Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s speech while attending BJP’s two-day long executive meeting in Karimganj. Sonowal said-
Those Are not getting party tickets must not take it personally and must remember that they are working for the party and only one from the constituency will get a ticket.
Eventually, for the time being Jay Panda have to pat his back himself with a feeling of self-persuasion, tightening the bolts for machinating Modi Ji for hitting the Bull’s eye i.e. Rajya Sabha Seat.
Baijayant Panda is now the BJP national vice-president in charge of Assam and Delhi. The BJP won the panchayat elections in Assam a few days back. In fact, the credit goes to Chief Minister Hemant Biswasarma and party activists, but Baijayant was trying to take credit for it.
There are many reasons why the BJP does not trust Vaijayan. The BJP lost the panchayat elections in Baijayant’s own Lok Sabha constituency, Kendrapara. The BJP won only one out of the 32 district council seats in Kendrapara. The party workers and leaders blamed Baijayant directly. In Kendrapara, Baijayant has no party affiliation too. Moreover, he don’t even attend team events.
In addition, Kendrapara’s senior BJP leaders and activists have also claimed that the party has suffered a humiliating defeat in the panchayat elections due to the fact that few of his supporters who are former BJD party workers are the lone strength for his political manoeuver.