Lucknow: The BJPs first list of candidates for Lok Sabha elections has sparked discontent in the Uttar Pradesh unit, with former chief minister Kalyan Singh apparently being unhappy over ticket being given to Khurja MP Ashok Pradhan.

A Rajya Sabha ticket to his protege Kusum Rai and Lok Sabha candidature for himself from his chosen constituency has not proved enough to placate Singh, who has made his displeasure clear to the party high command, sources close to Kalyan Singh said.

Singh believes Pradhan, who will contest from Bulandshahar, had clandestinely helped Bahujan Samaj Party candidates in the last assembly elections, leading to the defeat of party nominees, the sources claimed.

"Pradhans anti-party activity also lead to the defeat of Singhs son Rajvir Singh from the familys traditional Dibai seat in the last elections," sources alleged.

Singh had earlier apprised both BJP prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh about his reservations about Pradhan and there were also reports of Pradhan being shifted to a reserved seat in Delhi but the sudden announcement of his name in the list of 11 candidates from UP has left Singh and his supporters fuming, they said.

Singh supporters are further enraged by the fact that he is the sitting MP from Bulandshahar and "no heed was paid to his feelings about Pradhan".

A section of the local unit of the party in Bulandshahr has already decided to oppose Pradhan in the election while the other has decided to send letters to both the national and state units for changing the candidate, the sources said.

Senior BJP leaders , when contacted, refused to comment on the selection of Pradhan but exuded confidence that the matter would be solved amicably.
Source : DNA