Protests at presser, cracks in Delhi BJP over tickets
November 9, 2013
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces an uphill task trying to keep its flock united over ticket distribution in the Delhi elections. Though the party managed to put up a united face after Harsh Vardhan was declared the chief ministerial candidate over Vijay Goel, several leaders are now rebelling.
A press conference hosted by Mr Vardhan and Mr Goel took an ugly turn as many protesting BJP workers barged into the room. While Mr Goel had to escape the protests, Mr Vardhan continued to put up a brave face, till he was heckled by the protestors. Protests have also taken place at the party office and residences of senior party leaders like Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari.
Meanwhile, several BJP leaders are now quitting the party after being denied tickets. Four-time BJP MLA Harsharan Singh Balli was denied ticket from the Harinagar assembly constituency; Mr Balli was quick to announce that he would fight as an independent candidate from the same constituency. Mr Balli has a strong support base in the constituency and can hurt the BJP’s chances; now Vijay Goel has been drafted to speak to the potential rebel.
In another jolt to the Delhi BJP, former mayor of the south Delhi municipal corporation Savita Gupta decided to resign from the party and joined challenger Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). She had been denied a ticket from the Kasturba Nagar seat.
Senior party leader Azad Singh resigned from the party as soon the tickets were announced: he wanted to contest the elections from the Mundka seat, but was denied a ticket. Similarly, a councilor Dharambir, who wanted a party ticket from the Kalkaji assembly seat, resigned from the party.
Party MP Kirti Azad was so peeved at his wife Poonam Azad not getting a ticket that he came on record and said that the party has overlooked the interests of the poorvanchalis (people from eastern Uttar Pradesh). The BJP has been trying hard to win over the poorvanchalis and roped in famous Bhojpuri singer Manoj Tiwari to win over votes.
In further embarrassment, on Friday late evening, a party leader from Mustafabad assembly seat, Jagdish Pradhan declared himself as the party candidate during a party meeting without the consent of the party.
After a 15-year dry spell, the BJP knows that it’s chances of forming a government in Delhi are brighter this time. But that has also resulted in increased competition for tickets.
Party heavyweights too have been pushing their own candidates. While Arun Jaitley managed a ticket for his close aide OP Sharma, who lost badly in the preceding elections; Sushma Swaraj’s candidate Shikha Rai also managed a nomination. Tickets to the sons party leaders Rajiv Babbar and Vijay Kumar Malhotra have also ruffled many feathers.
“It’s a long way ahead, we will overcome,” said a party leader, trying to sound optimistic. “If the leadership is united such fissures will also be managed.”
November 9, 2013
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces an uphill task trying to keep its flock united over ticket distribution in the Delhi elections. Though the party managed to put up a united face after Harsh Vardhan was declared the chief ministerial candidate over Vijay Goel, several leaders are now rebelling.
A press conference hosted by Mr Vardhan and Mr Goel took an ugly turn as many protesting BJP workers barged into the room. While Mr Goel had to escape the protests, Mr Vardhan continued to put up a brave face, till he was heckled by the protestors. Protests have also taken place at the party office and residences of senior party leaders like Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari.
Meanwhile, several BJP leaders are now quitting the party after being denied tickets. Four-time BJP MLA Harsharan Singh Balli was denied ticket from the Harinagar assembly constituency; Mr Balli was quick to announce that he would fight as an independent candidate from the same constituency. Mr Balli has a strong support base in the constituency and can hurt the BJP’s chances; now Vijay Goel has been drafted to speak to the potential rebel.
In another jolt to the Delhi BJP, former mayor of the south Delhi municipal corporation Savita Gupta decided to resign from the party and joined challenger Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). She had been denied a ticket from the Kasturba Nagar seat.
Senior party leader Azad Singh resigned from the party as soon the tickets were announced: he wanted to contest the elections from the Mundka seat, but was denied a ticket. Similarly, a councilor Dharambir, who wanted a party ticket from the Kalkaji assembly seat, resigned from the party.
Party MP Kirti Azad was so peeved at his wife Poonam Azad not getting a ticket that he came on record and said that the party has overlooked the interests of the poorvanchalis (people from eastern Uttar Pradesh). The BJP has been trying hard to win over the poorvanchalis and roped in famous Bhojpuri singer Manoj Tiwari to win over votes.
In further embarrassment, on Friday late evening, a party leader from Mustafabad assembly seat, Jagdish Pradhan declared himself as the party candidate during a party meeting without the consent of the party.
After a 15-year dry spell, the BJP knows that it’s chances of forming a government in Delhi are brighter this time. But that has also resulted in increased competition for tickets.
Party heavyweights too have been pushing their own candidates. While Arun Jaitley managed a ticket for his close aide OP Sharma, who lost badly in the preceding elections; Sushma Swaraj’s candidate Shikha Rai also managed a nomination. Tickets to the sons party leaders Rajiv Babbar and Vijay Kumar Malhotra have also ruffled many feathers.
“It’s a long way ahead, we will overcome,” said a party leader, trying to sound optimistic. “If the leadership is united such fissures will also be managed.”
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This story was first published in www.thepoliticalindian.com on November 9, 2013
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