Pankaj Singh, who has been given a BJP ticket from Noida for the upcoming UP Assembly polls, today asserted that he had not been given the opportunity because of his father and Home minister Rajnath Singh but due to his credentials as president of saffron party’s youth wing.
Calling Akhilesh Yadav a ‘lollipop Chief Minister’, Pankaj said that the people of Uttar Pradesh have no more faith in him.
He also said that Congress and SP have come together as they are wary of BJP's increasing presence.
Pankaj Singh said he will visit Noida on Monday and meet party workers and the general public.
Singh's inclusion in the list further raised criticism on dynastic politics which has engulfed the UP elections, especially the BJP.
Many ticket hopefuls in the party have come out in open against the decision and accused the party high command of ignoring the local candidate.
Sanjay Bali, general secretary, BJP Noida unit, and close aide of Union minister Mahesh Sharma, has resigned from all party posts and threatened to contest the election as an Independent or on a ticket of another party.
"Rajnath Singh is Union home minister. His son has been fielded from Noida seat. Now is there any difference between BJP and other parties as far as dynastic politics is concerned?" Bali told Times of India.
Noida MLA Vimla Batham was also expecting party ticket and had collected nomination papers but the party's decision has left her surprised too, reports say.
Captain Vikas Gupta, one of the ticket hopefuls, said he will hold a press conference on Monday to announce his next move.
