Difference in local BJP unit spill over to streets

Varanasi, Mar 27 (UNI) Simmering dissensions in the local unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today spilled over to streets with young party workers and women protesting against the selection of aged Jyotsana Srivastava for the Varanasi (Cantt) Assembly seat.

Led by former deputy mayor Sanjay Rai -- who was a strong candidate for the party ticket from Varanasi (Cantt) seat -- young party workers and women activists staged a dharna in front of the BJP city unit office at Gulab Bag.

Raising slogans against the party leadership for opting for Ms Srivastava -- wife of former state finance minister and senior party leader Harishchandra Srivastava -- the protestors set a 72-hour deadline for changing the candidate from the seat, which has returned BJP victorious in the last three polls.

Interestingly, the seat has been represented in the Assembly by either Mr Srivastava or his wife during the last three polls.

''If the party leadership does not address our aspirations, we will either field an independent candidate or totally boycott the election,'' Mr Sanjay Rai cautioned.

UNI