Four-time BJP MLA protests denial of ticket

A four-time BJP MLA has raised a banner of revolt against the party for being denied a ticket from the assembly constituency he once represented. Narendra Kumar Singh Gaur who has won four elections from Allahabad (North) has said instead of him, the ticket was given to a candidate “known for blatant use of money and muscle power” and enjoying “backing of some very honourable leaders”. “I am shocked that the party has ignored my claim for a ticket from Allahabad North, which I have represented four times on the trot, and chosen a person known for blatant use of money and muscle power,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_174362” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Reuters”]  [/caption] Gaur, who had won from Allahabad (North) in all the state assembly polls since 1991 but had lost in the last one held in 2007, was upset over the fact that the party has fielded strongman Uday Bhan Karwaria from the seat. Karwaria, a two-time MLA from Bara seat in the district’s trans-Yamuna region and sandmine contractor known for alleged use of muscle power both in business and politics, was chosen from the elite city constituency as Bara had been declared as reserved following the latest delimitation. Gaur, who was the minister for higher education when the BJP was in power in the state, claimed that Karwaria enjoyed the “backing of some very honourable leaders” and hence he was chosen from “the predominantly urban seat comprising educated electorate which would naturally feel uncomfortable with a candidate with this type of backround”. PTI