Dehradun: In 2014, BJP won all five Lok Sabha constituencies by a convincing margin. However, despite having sitting MPs in all constituencies, the party’s state top brass finds itself in a piquant situation as each day the number of ticket claimants has witnessed an increase.BJP MLA from Bageshwar Chandan Ramdas who is seeking ticket from Almora seat and Rajkumar Thukral, party lawmaker from Rudrapur, who is interested in contesting from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar constituency are latest entrants in the list. While Ramdas says, “Party will consider his experience,” Thukral said that if given a chance he would win the constituency otherwise he would quit the political arena.Besides, a high number of party leaders, including ministers, MLAs have sought tickets for themselves. Khanpur legislator Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion has remained vocal in seeking ticket for his wife, who he says “Is a local and will ensure development in the constituency.”State minister Rekha Arya has already termed herself as the “most suitable candidate” from Almora, which has Ajay Tamta — a minister of state in the Union government — as its MP Cabinet minister Yashpal Arya on several occasions has staked claim for the Naintial-Udham Singh Nagar constituency. While Arya is an MLA from Bazpur, his son Sanjeev is a legislator from Nainital assembly constituency.Another heavyweight and a minister who is trying for a ticket is forest minister Harak Singh Rawat. He was among the 10 Congress MLAs who had rebelled against the party in 2016 and joined BJP. Rawat is one among the frontrunners for the Pauri Lok Sabha ticket and in the past he has won assembly constituencies such as Kotdwar and Rudraprayag.When contacted, BJP state chief Ajay Bhatt told TOI, “Party members, be it a parliamentarian, legislator or anyone else has the right to stake claim for the ticket. But decency needs to be maintained and party lines need to be followed. Many names have cropped up in the last few days and it shows that we have many faces who are capable of winning the seat.”He claimed that the state unit was of the view that the sitting MPs should be repeated as candidates. “However, this is the view of the state unit. We will forward the names of shortlisted candidates and the national leadership will take a call on the issue,” he added.Interestingly, a former MLA from Ranikhet seat, Bhatt too is eying ticket from Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar constituency. “If given opportunity by the party, I have no objection in contesting,” said the senior BJP leader.

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