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Bhubaneswar: After being denied ticket from the Bargarh parliamentary constituency, BJP leader Subash Chauhan today took to social media to vent out his displeasure. Chauhan informed that he will not contest the upcoming elections, however, he clarified that he has no intentions to leave BJP or switch to any other party.
"I am associated with the party and will be there to serve the people but I won't contest polls this time. Despite indifference from several leaders, I have been working hard and serving the people of Bargarh since last five years, still I was denied ticket," said Chauhan, who was recently appointed as the State party vice president.
Though Chauhan lost to BJD's Prabhas Kumar Singh in 2014 election by a margin of 11,178 votes, he garnered a huge popularity and support in the parliamentary constituency.
This elections, BJP has fielded party national secretary Suresh Pujari from Bargarh Lok Sabha constituency.
"The people of Bargarh were all set to give full support to BJP, but I was denied ticket from here. When my supporters opposed this decision of the party, they were threatened by some senior leaders to remain silent," alleged Chauhan.
Chauhan further claimed that after much pressure from his supporters and the people of Bargarh, BJP appointed him as the party's state Vice President and also offered him ticket to contest from Bijepur Assembly Constituency against CM Naveen Patnaik.
However, sources said he refused the offer and instead advised Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to fight from Bijepur.
Meanwhile, Dharmendra Pradhan in response to queries over brewing resentment in his party, said, "All the party workers are capable. A revolution to bring in change is our focus. BJP is worker-driven, respects democracy and decision on a candidate is taken after discussion at Central Election Committee. And resentment is natural when there are multiple capable aspirants. I believe that a major political change is awaiting the political scenario of Odisha."
