Arun Jaitley asks partymen to be obedient

New Delhi/Hubli (Karnataka): In Gujarat, seven-time Ahmedabad (East) MP Harin Pathak, an Advani loyalist, raised the banner of revolt after being denied renomination. “The activities that have taken place in the party in the last three months have hurt party workers. The party has been inducting the Congress’ third grade turncoats, who have noisily criticised the party (BJP) earlier and they are even being felicitated here,” Mr Pathak said. He has been replaced by actor Paresh Rawal.

Though the BJP claimed there were no differences over ticket distribution, Mr Jaitley, in an apparent criticism of Mr Jaswant Singh’s move to contest as an Independent, said: “Membership of a political party is a privilege. It is also an act of self-oppression where personal views and ambitions are subjected to collective wisdom of the party. At times, the party may flood leaders with privileges and positions. On other occasions, the leader may have to take ‘no’ as an answer.” Writing in his blog, Mr Jaitley said a politician or leader denied a ticket must accept the decision with a “smile”.

In a dig at the BJP over its ticket distribution problems, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said there was more democracy in “family-run” parties like his National Conference than in “parties with a difference”.

Mr Abdullah tweeted: “Earlier there was Advani-Vajpayee duo, possibly even with (Murli Manohar) Joshi but now it’s just the NaMo (Narendra Modi) monopoly.”