Patna, Sep 27 (India Today) : All is not well within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in poll-bound Bihar as a sitting MLA has accused the party of selling election tickets. Raghunathpur MLA Vikram Kunwar has claimed that his party has sold Assembly poll ticket to former strongman and RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin's shooter.

Kunwar, who was denied ticket by the BJP, said party has given ticket to Manoj Singh who was Shahabuddin's shooter and currently runs a mafia racket. Kunwar also alleged that Singh is involved in land grabbing from farmers. Full coverage: Bihar Assembly Election

"I would have no issue if the ticket was given to a party worker. But it was given to a criminal. He (Manoj Singh) is a criminal accused of land grabbing. He is identified as Shahabuddin's shooter. This deal is of over Rs 2 crore. None of the BJP leaders have come forward and ask or explain why my ticket was cancelled," Kunwar said. ALSO READ | BJP tickets sold in Bihar, claims MP RK Singh, party rubbishes charge

BJP MP RK Singh angry with ticket distribution

The fresh allegations come hours after BJP MP from Ara RK Singh had criticised the party's Bihar unit for denying tickets to deserving candidates.

"Popular sitting MLAs are denied tickets and criminals are being given the tickets. No wonder party workers are enraged in Bihar," RK Singh, former home secretary, had said.

"What is the difference between you (BJP) and Lalu Prasad if you give tickets to criminals?" Singh asked. "I will not campaign for such candidates even if the party asks me to," he added.

BJP MLA, leader back R K Singh's charge

Outgoing BJP MLA Vikram Kunwar on Sunday backed party MP R K Singh's sensational claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party was "selling" tickets to criminals and alleged that he, too, was denied ticket from Raghunathpur Assembly seat as it was "sold" to a turncoat.

"I substantiate Singh's charge that the BJP has sold tickets to criminals as I have been denied ticket from Raghunathpur Assembly seat and replaced by Manoj Singh, a sharpshooter of Shahabuddin," alleged Kunwar, a sitting MLA.

Claiming that he was a committed party worker, Kunwar told PTI that he was unhappy with the manner in which the party leadership denied ticket to him, but added that he would continue to remain a BJP loyalist.

"Please explain to me as to why you have denied ticket to me... Hang me if I have committed anything wrong or failed in duties, but do give a reason for denying ticket to me," Kumar implored the BJP leadership.

Another BJP leader and former minister Chandramohan Rai also accused the party of "selling" tickets to criminals and said he was corroborating his charge on the basis of ticket given to the jailed JD(U) leader Sunil Pandey's wife Gita Pandey from Tarari Assembly seat in Bhojpur district by the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), a constituent of the NDA.

Rajnath Singh trashes allegations

Singh's allegations forced Home Minister and senior party leader Rajnath Singh to come out with an explanation. Rajnath trashed RK Singh's statement and said ticket distribution is being done fairly.

"In BJP, ticket distribution is done fairly considering all aspects," the Home Minister said.

BJP rubbishes charge

BJP, despite the seriousness of the allegation, was temperate in its reaction.

Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad, who was in Bihar for campaigning, and Sushil Kumar Modi, dismissed Singh's claim about tickets having been sold to criminals.

Prasad, a Rajya Sabha member from the state, said "In BJP, ticket is given to a nominee after transparent discussion by senior leaders."

BJP spokesman Siddharth Nath Singh said the party follwed a democratic and transparent process in deciding its nominees and advised Singh to follow party discipline and restraint.

"Every leader in Bihar needs to ensure that Jungle Raj part II doesn't come and, at the same time, it is important that party discipline and restraint is maintained," he said.

Despite Singh's comments causing discomfiture to BJP, sources in the party said any action against him was unlikely before the crucial polls in Bihar get over.

Singh's remarks come on the heels of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's call for a review of the reservation policy which created a political storm that prompted BJP and the Modi government to distance themselves from it.

JD(U)'s reaction

Rival JD(U) was quick to pounce on BJP following Singh's comments, describing them as "exceptionally grave" and alleging that BJP chief Amit Shah wants to win the election by "hook or by crook".

"R K Singh is a senior member of the BJP from Bihar and he has had the courage to speak the truth. The unfortunate thing is that nobody is willing to listen to the truth anymore in the BJP either in Bihar or Delhi.

"Sushil Modi (BJP leader and former Deputy CM) takes phone calls only from Amit Shah, and Amit Shah has decided, like elsewhere in the country, that he must win in election by hook or crook or by any other means. The allegations made by R K Singh are exceptionally grave," Pawan Verma, JD(U)'s national spokesman, said.