BJP's sitting MLA resigns over denial of ticket

Dehra Dun, Jan 24 (UNI) The only sitting MLA of the BJP in Uttarakhand, who was denied Assembly ticket from his constituency, resigned from the party here today.

Out of the 19 sitting MLAs, BJP has allotted tickets to 18.

According to the party sources, Malchandra, BJP sitting MLA from Purola, resigned from the party along with his supporters. His supporters had been on dharna at BJP state headquarters since the declaration of the first list of party candidates minus their leader's name in it.

Not finding their leader's name even in the second list, the miffed supporters today burnt the party's flag sloganeering against party leaders at party headquarters. However Mr. Malchandra was not present during the flag burning.

Meanwhile, party spokesperson Devendra Bhasin maintained that this would not affect the party's election prospects. ''This sort of incident was normal during election season,'' he told reporters, adding that, in general, party workers were satisfied with the selection of candidates. He said the party would resolve every thing and would return back to its normal course.

The party had declared the names of the eighteen sitting MLAs in its first list of 51 candidates except for Purola constituency. In its second list of 18 candidates released on Tuesday. the party allotted the ticket to Amrit Nagar from Purola.

UNI