This story is from October 3, 2020

Many BJP workers ‘unhappy’ as JD(U) sets sights on Buxar seat

Many BJP workers ‘unhappy’ as JD(U) sets sights on Buxar seat
As per the reports, former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey is likely to contest from Buxar seat.
PATNA: Resentment is brewing among local BJP workers in Buxar district over internal reports that the assembly constituency is likely to be handed over to ally JD(U) to facilitate the candidature of former state DGP Gupteshwar Pandey.
The Buxar unit of BJP recently conveyed its workers’ resentment to the party’s state leaders and urged them to ensure that the Buxar seat remains with the saffron party.

“All our state leaders are aware of the resentment among workers. We have conveyed to the state leaders, through proper channels, about the sentiments of workers,” BJP’s Buxar district president Madhuri Kunwar told TOI over the phone.
“If Buxar seat goes to JD(U), BJP workers will not work in this election. I am telling you the voice of BJP workers,” she said.
BJP’s Buxar MP and Union minister of state for health Ashwini Kumar Choubey too had recently expressed his reservation over any other NDA ally staking claim on the Buxar seat. “Buxar is the traditional seat of the BJP,” Choubey had said.
BJP’s Sukhda Pandey had won the seat in three elections in 2000, 2005 and 2010. But she lost the seat to Congress candidate Sanjay Kumar Tiwari in the 2015 assembly polls.
Gupteshwar Pandey, the 1987-batch
IPS officer, who took voluntary retirement on September 22, joined JD(U) in the presence of CM Nitish Kumar on September 27, just five days after quitting as DGP. As per speculation in the political circles, Pandey’s name is being considered as JD((U) candidate from Buxar. Pandey is a native of Geruabandh village under Itarhi block of the district.
Kunwar further said BJP was not dependent on others for victory in Buxar. “We have our strength to win the election from Buxar seat,” she said, adding, “We have already given two seats -- Rajpur and Dumraon- to JD(U) and other two seats- Buxar and Brahmapur- are contested by us for last several elections.”
Asked whether she knew that former DGP Pandey was being considered for Buxar seat, Kunwar said, “We too have been hearing such rumours, but BJP workers are not ready for it.”
She added, “BJP workers have been labouring for both seats for years. We do not work only during the election period, we nurture our constituencies. If our seats go to others...Are the BJP workers only there to carry ‘Jhola’ (bags) of others?”
Kunwar said she has been receiving around 500 phone calls every day from BJP workers asking if the party is going to contest from Buxar and Brahmapur seats or not. “I am telling you if BJP does not get Buxar and Brahmapur seats, the NDA will lose all four assembly seats in Buxar district,” Kunwar claimed.
However, JD(U) leaders in the district are in upbeat mood over the reports that former DGP would be contesting from Buxar. Sources said Pandey had a long meeting with JD(U)’s Buxar unit president Bindhyachal Singh Kushwaha during his last visit to Buxar a few days ago.
Admitting his meeting with Pandey, Kushwaha told TOI over the phone that the DGP had met him at the Buxar circuit house as a "school friend" and they had a long chat on various social issues.
Asked about BJP’s claim on Buxar assembly seat, Kushawaha said BJP had been contesting all four seats in neighbouring Kaimur district. Hence, the saffron party should leave at least three seats for JD(U) in Buxar district. “But the final decision on seat-sharing will be taken by our top leaders. We will follow whatever decision is taken by our leaders on the Buxar seat,” Kushwaha told TOI.
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