Luck plays part in candidate selection, indicates Khattar

With two ministers figuring among eight BJP legislators being denied re-nomination for state polls, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday indicated that luck plays a part in candidate selection.

Among the 78 names the party has announced in its first list, eight sitting legislators were denied tickets. Of them, two are ministers Rao Narbir Singh (Badshahpur), and Vipul Goel (Faridabad).

Asked what could be the reason for denying ticket to Singh, Khattar told reporters at a Swachhta event in Badshahpur on 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, that may be the party's parliamentary board could specify the reason.

"At least, that (the reason) is not in my mind," he said.

"I can only say that in any assembly segment, winnable candidates are more than one, those who are dedicated for the party's cause are more than one. Sometimes even we don't know what are the factors when one (candidate) has been selected out of 4-5 probables."
On supporters being unhappy, he said, "That is natural, ours is world's biggest party, where crores are members, lakhs are workers, in every Vidhan Sabha segment there are thousands of workers. Therefore, it is natural that workers have liking for a particular leader."