Delhi polls: Protest over ticket distribution continues at BJP office

NEW DELHI: For the second consecutive day, angry supporters of BJP leader Abhay Verma today staged a protest in front of the party's office here, even as Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay sought to downplay it terming the protest an expression of "love for their leader".

Party workers raised slogans in support of Verma and accused the senior leadership of sidelining him by not giving him a ticket from the Laxmi Nagar constituency.

The protesters were unhappy with the way local BJP leaders from various constituencies were being "sidelined" in order to make way for new faces inducted into the party.

Delhi BJP chief Upadhyay, who tried to pacify the party workers, said that such a reaction was normal and those who do not get ticket are bound to feel hurt.

"This is their love, affection for their leaders. It is normal for party workers to be upset, it happens during every election. I don't call this a protest, every party worker feels that at the time of elections their leader should be given a ticket," Upadhyay said here.

Yesterday, high drama was witnessed at the party's office here as angry supporters of Upadhyay shouted slogans and staged a sit-in protest against the top leadership for not giving a ticket to him from Mehrauli.

Trying to pacify his party's workers, Upadhyay also said that he is responsible for all 70 seats in Delhi and has to manage the campaigns of all candidates.