Agra: Disgruntled BJP leader breaks down after being denied ticket, files nomination as independent

AGRA: After filing nomination as an independent candidate on Kheragarh seat of Agra district, former BJP leader Digamber Singh Dhakrey broke into tears while addressing media persons on Friday.
A close aide of union minister of state and Agra MP, SP Singh Baghel, Dhakrey was a contender for BJP ticket to contest election of Kheragarh seat but failed to get it. Dhakrey alleged the senior BJP leaders betrayed him.“Kheragarh is my home turf. I will contest election with full strength to avenge the betrayal,” he said.
BJP has fielded Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha to contest election on Kheragarh seat. Contesting election on BSP ticket on the same seat, Kushwaha was elected MLA in 2012. In the 2017 assembly election, BJP candidate Mahesh Goyal had defeated Kushwaha by a margin of over 30,000 votes. Breaking his ties with BSP, Kushwaha had joined BJP two weeks ago.
Talking to TOI, Digamber Singh Dhakrey said, "I have been betrayed by senior BJP leaders. They had assured me a ticket to contest election on Kheragarh seat. But at the end time they gave it to an outsider, who was defeated by the sitting MLA of the party, in the 2017 state assembly election."
“I was assured to get the party ticket and had been working in the Kheragarh constituency for the last three years. My ticket was cancelled at the last moment, so that I could not join any other political party," he said adding that RLD which is in alliance with SP had offered him ticket to contest election on Khergarh seat which he had refused.
Dhakrey said, "I couldn't stop my tears as people who I had trusted have attempted my political murder. I would have not objected in case BJP had given ticket to someone who had worked for the party. On pursual of my supporters, I have filed nomination to contest election as an independent candidate. I am getting overwhelming support from the local residents and a majority of the BJP workers are also supporting me”.
Digamber Singh Dhakrey had joined BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Earlier in 2017, he had contested election for Agra Mayor as a BSP candidate. Securing around 1.5 lakh votes, he remained closest rival of BJP candidate Naveen Jain. 20 years ago, Dhakrey had unsuccessfully contested 2002 assembly election on Kheragarh seat as a candidate of Hindu Mahasabha. His father remained elected head of Sikandarpur village under Kheragarh constituency for 26 years.