PTI
 
New Delhi, Nov 13: After the Congress, the cash-for-ticket allegation rocked the BJP on Thursday with a close advisor of Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vishwendra Singh resigning from the party alleging influence of "money power" in the selection of candidates in the state for the Assembly polls.

"I have been active member of BJP and political adviser to Rajasthan Chief Minister (Vasundhara Raje). I have seen things from very close quarters. I am dismayed by the sale of tickets for the Rajasthan assembly polls and have decided to leave the party," the BJP MP from Bharatpur said in a statement.

The embarrassment to the BJP comes close on the heels of a similar allegation levelled by senior Congress leader Margaret Alva who complained of discrimination against her son Nivedith after he was denied a ticket for the Karnataka Assembly election.

Singh said he had sent his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker "as I feel that I should not continue as an MP of BJP."

Reacting to the resignation, party's Rajasthan incharge Gopinath Munde said, "He was demanding too much from the party. We have tried our bit but there is a limit to things."

While Singh did not reveal his future plans, he announced that he would be contesting the assembly polls.

There is speculation that he may join Congress or would contest as Congress supported candidate.

"I would contest the Dig-Kumher seat in the Assembly polls," Singh said.

Alva faced the party's ire this week after she alleged that tickets were sold for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

She was removed from the highest bodies of the party, Congress Working Committee and Election Committee. Alva also resigned from the General Secretaryship after she was held guilty of violating discipline.

She was relieved as in-charge of party affairs in several important states, including Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana.

BJP announces 43 more candidates for Rajasthan polls

BJP on Thursday released its second list of 43 candidates for the Rajasthan assembly elections, dropping a dozen sitting legislators.

The dropped legislators include two ministers Babulal Verma and Bhawani Joshi. The party has given tickets to 20 new young faces, and the list includes nine women.

Earlier, the BJP had announced 94 candidates. Rajasthan assembly has 200 seats.

While the party is in the process of finalising the remaining candidates, it has struck an alliance with the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on four seats.

BJP leader in-charge of Rajasthan affairs Gopinath Munde and JD-U's K.C. Tyagi told reporters here they had decided to contest on four seats together. "We will together ask the people to give one more opportunity to the BJP to work for the state," Munde said. 

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