Nikhil's supporters create ruckus at Cong office

PATNA: Congress workers from Aurangabad, Ara and Vaishali on Friday went on a rampage at Sadaquat Ashram , the state party headquarters here, and accused party leaders in Bihar of “selling the tickets” for the Lok Sabha elections.

The protesters, mainly supporters of former MP Nikhil Kumar, were furious over denial of ticket to him from Aurangabad.

They raised slogans against Bihar Congress in charge Shaktisinh Gohil, BPCC president Madan Mohan Jha and campaign committee head Akhilesh Singh. Nikhil, the son of former CM Satyendra Narayan Sinha and grandson of Anugrah Narayan Singh, had represented Aurangabad in 2004.

The protesters took out a funeral procession of an effigy of Gohil and burned tyres on the party office premises.

Aurangabad is known as Chittorgarh of Bihar for major concentration of Rajputs. Nikhil’s wife Shyama Singh was also elected as MP earlier. The grand alliance of RJD, Congress and other parties on Friday announced Upendra Prasad of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) as its candidate from Aurangabad.

The party workers alleged that former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was defeated with bigger margin from Sasaram than Nikhil in Aurangabad in 2014. Yet she is likely to get ticket this time.

Madhavi Singh, a party worker, said leaders like Jha and Akhilesh allegedly sold the Aurangabad ticket to HAM(S). “Nikhil ji sirf Bihar ke neta nahi hai, wo pure desh ke neta hain (Nikhil ji is not only the leader of Bihar, but the country). Congress leaders here struck a deal with HAM(S),” she alleged.

Rajwendra Kumar Singh from Vaishali said Aurangabad happened to be the traditional seat of Congress, which had won nine times from this constituency. Holding the placard which read ‘We want Nikhil Kumar from Aurangabad seat’, Singh said they would continue their protest till the party fulfilled their demand.

“Nikhil’s family has represented Aurangabad for generations, but the new Congress leaders in Bihar are trying to cut the party roots,” said Raj Kishore Singh.

Congress leader Akhilesh Singh told this newspaper that the party had been contesting from Aurangabad since 1952. “It is the hereditary (paramparagat) seat of Congress. Gohil did not want to let go of this seat. However, we are in alliance and have to make some sacrifice to defeat the BJP in the coming election,” he said and added: “Nikhil ji is a very old member of this party and we will make alternate arrangements for him.”