BJP’s Satish Chandra Dubey revolts, to contest as independent from Valmikinagar

PATNA: The NDA received a jolt on Sunday when BJP’s sitting MP from Valmikinagar Satish Chandra Dubey announced to contest the Lok Sabha election from the seat as independent.
The Valmikinagar seat has gone to JD(U)’s kitty under the seat-sharing formula of the NDA. On Sunday, Dubey announced that he would contest election on the request of his supporters, who were demoralised after the seat was allotted to JD(U).
JD(U) has fielded Vaidyanath Prasad Mahto from this constituency.Mahto, a former MP, is mainly banking on cadre votes of BJP, JD(U) and LJP and the votes of Kushwaha, the caste he belongs to and the upper castes who are in sizable number in the constituency.
“I couldn’t resist as my supporters had been requesting me to throw my hat in the ring ever since BJP left the seat for JD(U). I held a meeting with my supporters and then decided to fight from the seat,” Dubey told this newspaper.
To a query, he said he wouldn’t quit the party. “I will be contesting election while remaining in the party,” he said. When reminded of his action being construed as anti-party activity, Dubey said he was ready to face the consequences.
The BJP had initiated disciplinary action against its former MP Putul Kumari Singh when she filed nomination papers from the Banka Lok Sabha constituency as independent defying party’s directives. The BJP had asked her to withdraw her nomination, which she didn’t do, compelling senior leaders to expel her from party’s primary membership for six years.
Earlier, at least 24 functionaries of BJP’s different wings had resigned from their respective posts to protest against denial of ticket to Dubey. “We will no longer tolerate the humiliation anymore, come what may,” said Dadan Pandey, a staunch supporter of the outgoing MP.
The Congress, on the other hand, has decided to field Shashwat Kedar Pandey, the grandson of former CM Kedar Pandey, from the seat. Mayawati-led BSP has fielded Deepak Yadav, the managing director of Bagaha Sugar Mill, as its nominee. Deepak is the son-in-law of D P Yadav, an MP from Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Dubey on Sunday visited different villages under Narkatiaganj block in West Champaran district to garner the support of the electorate. “He has already launched election campaign in the constituency,” a supporter of Dubey said.
Valmikinagar will go to the polls in the sixth phase on May 12.