Udaipur, October 21, 2024 - During a rally yesterday, October 20, BJP leader Narendra Meena broke down upon learning that he has not been selected to contest the Salumber Assembly by-election. Supporters and party workers tried to console him, but he continued to weep.

Addressing the gathering afterwards, Meena expressed his disappointment over the party’s decision to nominate Shanta Devi Meena, the widow of the late BJP MLA Amritlal Meena, as the Salumber candidate. He said it would have been better if a member or worker from within the party had been chosen, questioning why the party was concentrating power within a single family. He mentioned that he would seek opinions from selected individuals in the community and send those recommendations to the party’s high command, urging them to reconsider their decision.

Meena declared, "The high command should change its decision within 24 hours; otherwise, we will take our own decision."

He noted that as soon as the BJP announced the candidate for the Salumber by-election, it created a wave of disappointment among party workers and the public. Hundreds of workers had invited him to the rally, where they collectively decided to give the high command 24 hours to reconsider their choice.

He added, "We shall wait till October 21 for the decision to change. If it does not, I will act according to what the people of Salumber decide."

Meena recounted that BJP leader Shri Chand Kripalani had contacted him to facilitate a conversation with the Chief Minister, but he insisted that he would act according to the wishes of the Salumber public.

The BJP has employed the sympathy card in this by-election by nominating Shanta Devi, which has proven effective in past elections. In the previous Rajsamand by-election, for instance, the party had nominated Dipti Maheshwari, the daughter of late MLA Kiran Maheshwari, who went on to win.

Both the BJP and Congress have previously nominated the children of deceased legislators in by-elections during their respective tenures, resulting in successful outcomes.