Jaipur/Alwar: In Bharatpur’s Ward 19, the local body polls threw up a grassroots thriller Monday: Manoj Singh, an independent councillor who won in 2019, was offered tickets by both BJP and Congress. Singh, who had approached both parties, finally picked BJP, saying he appreciated the work of the Bhajan Lal Sharma govt.The Congress, meanwhile, also submitted its party symbol to the Assistant Returning Officer. But with Singh choosing to contest as the BJP candidate, the Congress symbol became a ticket without a passenger.“I am grateful that both parties offered me a ticket. I appeared before the screening committees of both parties, and both must have seen the winning quality in me,” Singh said. Singh said he had no quarrel with Congress ideology and recalled that he had contested and won on a Congress ticket in 2014.According to Singh, BJP informed him of its decision on the phone late Sunday night, while Congress conveyed its offer during the day. It didn’t take long for Congress’ appreciation of Singh to sour. Shortly after he picked the ruling party, Congress’ disciplinary committee handed him the pink slip–terminating his membership of the party with immediate effect.
