Sushma clarifies on BJP candidate

Bhopal, Nov 25 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj today fielded a volley of questions from reporters over granting BJP tivket to her 'agent' Jitendra Daga from the state capital's Huzur constituency overlooking the objections of party cadre.

''The Madhya Pradesh unit of BJP has recommended Mr Daga's candidature before the central election committee, of which she is also a member'', Mrs Swaraj told a news conference here.

Mr Daga was an ordinary party worker for over 20 years and he had lent a helping hand during senior party leader L K Advani's 1997 Rathyatra, she claimed as Mr Daga's merit and added the BJP would win the Huzur seat.

Regarding party rebels Bhagirath Patidar and Bhagwandas Sabnani, strong claimants of BJP ticket from Huzur, Mrs Swaraj said Mr Sabnani was not assured of party ticket during his re-entry after leaving Uma Bharti-led Bhartiya Jan Shakti.

''The party had given them something by nominating Mr Sabnani as mayoral candidate and appointing Mr Patidar as Mandi Board Vice Chairman'', she said, adding Mr Sabnani had 'suspicious loyalty' as he had left BJP within a month after rejoining it following denial of ticket.

The Rajya Sabha member from the state, who shared a common address with Mr Daga at the Sindhi community-dominated Bairagarh near the Bhopal airport, said the party gave tickets on its own considerations, which the party was not obliged to disclose.

''What's the proof'', she quipped when it was pointed out that BJP was distributing pamphlets purportedly aimed at character assassination of a woman candidate from Bhopal. BJP disagreed with the contention, she told a reporter.

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