Azharuddin faces opposition from Congress workers

Jaipur, March 20 (IANS) Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, the Congress candidate from Rajasthan's Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency, is facing opposition from party workers who are holding demonstrations and demanding the ticket be given to a local party worker.

Some of the party workers burnt posters in Tonk and held demonstrations at Patel Circle on Wednesday.

Similar opposition to Azharuddin's candidature has been reported from areas like Malpura and Sawai Madhopur.

"There is no dearth of good local candidates including Muslims in our area. We don't want any outsider to be imposed on us," said Naimuddin, a Congress worker.

He demanded that the party should reconsider its decision and give ticket to a local candidate.

"The party workers are feeling let down and there is no enthusiasm. If the ticket is offered to a local candidate then the workers will work for the victory of the candidate," said another party worker.

A party worker said: "We don't want any parachute candidate. It will be really difficult for us to give our 100 percent in the case of Azhar."

Azharuddin had contested last Lok Sabha polls in 2009 from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh. Despite these oppositions, Azhar is confident of returning to parliament for a second term.

"I was happy serving the Moradabad constituency and now the party wants me to shift to Sawai Madhopur and I am prepared for the long haul," Azharuddin had told IANS.

"Gratitude to the Congress Party for choosing me, I dedicate myself to serving the people of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur," he had tweeted.

Tonk-Sawai Madhopur has large number of minority voters. It also has good number of Gujjar and Meena community voters.