In an unexpected development, BJP president Nitin Gadkari denied party ticket to deputy leader in the Rajya sabha S S Ahluwalia. Ahluwalia is a Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand and his term is expiring on April 2. Since he is considered a senior leader, his re-nomination was never in doubt. The BJP leadership, however, made it clear to him that alliance partner JMM leader Shibu Soren is unwilling to share the RS seat and therefore, party won’t contest. But what shocked the BJP insiders was that it encouraged Anshuman Mishra, a London-based NRI businessman to file the nomination as an Independent and party’s 18 MLAs would vote for him. He will have to manage the rest from JMM and others. The fight will become interesting as another industrialist Pawan Dhoot has also filed papers for the RS seat as an Independent. This is bound to create problems for the Congress nominee Balmuchu.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj who was strongly pitching for Ahluwalia, wanted him to be fielded from Bihar. But Gadkari decided to give tickets to Ravi Shanker Prasad and Dharmendra Pradhan for the two clear seats. He wanted JD (U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to give BJP the third Rajya Sabha seat as it has 23 MLAs in the Bihar Assembly and JD (U) has 11 extra votes. It is learnt that Sushma wanted Ahluwalia be given the second seat instead of third uncertain seat. But Gadkari stood firm and indicated that Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the RSS leadership is keen for Dharmendra Pradhan. Even L K Advani wanted Ahluwalia to be accommodated. But Gadkari remained unmoved.
It was curtains for Ahluwalia and for the third seat businessman R K Sinha, a confidante of Murli Manohar Joshi, was given the ticket. The JD(U) has fielded its own candidate also.
