BJP, Cong field 11 turncoats for Rajasthan Assembly elections
The ruling BJP and the Congress in Rajasthan have fielded 11 turncoats for the December 7 Assembly polls, hoping that the "parachute" candidates will shine for them. Voices of dissent are being heard from both parties and sidelined party leaders are quick to grab a chance to contest. The BJP has fielded seven defectors, including six from the Congress and one from the BSP.
BSP defector Abhinesh Mehrishi to contest from Ratangarh, replaces minister
BJP nominees Mahesh Pratap Singh from Nathdawara, Ram Kishor Saini from Bandikui, Mamta Sharma from Pipalda, Kalpna Singh from Ladpura, Rajendra Bhamu from Jhunjhunu and Ashok Sharma from Rajkhera are the leaders who crossed over to the saffron brigade from Congress. Another defector from BSP, Abhinesh Mehrishi will contest from Ratangarh seat replacing sitting BJP minister Rajkumar Rinwa, who would contest as an independent.
Congress gave tickers to at least four turncoats
Meanwhile, the Congress has given tickets to at least four turncoats. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who had in August stated that he'll make sure party workers have their say and no parachute candidate gets nominated in the next Assembly elections in Rajasthan, seems to have swallowed his own words while finalizing the ticket list for bright prospects of the party in the state.
Turncoats fielded by Congress include Harish Meena, Habib-ur-Rehman
Rajasthan Congress President Sachin Pilot said the decision was taken by the party high command on case-to-case basis. Turncoats, who managed to get Congress tickets just after leaving the BJP, include Harish Meena, Habib-ur-Rehman, Manvendra Singh, and Sona Devi Bawri. MP from Dausa, Meena, who had quit the party a day ago, has been fielded from Deoli-Uniara on a Congress ticket.
Candidates joining an hour/day before list release also fielded
Similarly, BJP MLA from Nagaur Habib-ur-Rehman, who was connected with Congress since 1959, had also quit the BJP a day before the list was declared and has been fielded by Congress from Nagaur seat itself. Kanhaiya Lal Jhanwar is another parachute candidate who joined Congress about five hours before the party's list was released and was fielded from Bikaner East.
IPS officer takes voluntary retirement, joins Congress, secures a ticket
Also, IPS officer Sawai Singh Godara has been fielded from Khinwsar just a few days after he took voluntary retirement. Raj Kumar Sharma, who secured ticket from his current seat of Nawalgarh by the Congress, was an independent legislator earlier.
