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Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow
Protests and demonstrations, albeit by small groups, were witnessed in and around the state Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters here following the declaration of the list of candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections.
The denial of tickets to 38 sitting legislators and three ministers has sparked off much resentment in BJP circles.
Anger was visible also among BJP allies who have been denied several important seats.
"It was our understanding with the BJP when we joined hands five years ago that we would contest the next election under a common banner...see how they have denied tickets to us," complained Virendra Singh of the Loktantrik Congress Party.
While Thursday evening's protests were limited to supporters of a Kanpur legislator, angry supporters of other disgruntled leaders were seen gathering outside the party office on Friday morning.
Supporters of Rakesh Sonkar, the sitting MLA from Sisamau in Kanpur, accused the party leadership of giving away tickets to "criminals."
While raising slogans inside the BJP headquarter premises, they pelted stones on the office building and damaged a car parked inside.
"Merit has been ignored in the selection of candidates," said a visibly charged Virendra Srivastava. "Where is the criterion of 'winnability' that the state BJP president Kalraj Misra had been boasting about?" he asked.
No senior BJP leader was available at the BJP headquarters. Both, Chief Minister Raj Nath Singh and party president Kalraj Misra, are in Delhi.
"The leaders are delaying their return to avoid any confrontation with the disgruntled element," sources said.
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