The Hindu : Khurana puts BJP in a fix

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 07, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Khurana puts BJP in a fix

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 6 . His love for the city continues to bring him back time and again. The former Delhi Chief Minister and now Rajasthan Governor, Madan Lal Khurana, today made it clear that his love for Delhi was not lost, but he would not like anybody from his family to enter the electoral fray for the Moti Nagar Assembly seat that has fallen vacant after his resignation last December.

"I am basically against promotion of dynastic politics. Therefore, I have made it clear to my party and its leadership that I will not nominate my son or any other member of my family to contest the by-election for the Moti Nagar Assembly seat which will be held along with the Lok Sabha polls on May 10,'' remarked Mr. Khurana, breaking his silence on the issue.

On a visit to the Capital, Mr. Khurana organised a "Holi Milan'' function at Jodhpur House on Saturday morning and used the opportunity to again get back to his first love, Delhi, and its mediapersons. In fact, his continued refusal could put the Bharatiya Janata Party in a dilemma on whom to field from this prestigious seat as it could have an impact on the outcome of the upcoming election in the Sadar Lok Sabha constituency.

Asked if the party had sought his help in identifying a candidate for the seat or would he play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the party and its nominee for this seat, Mr. Khurana said he was no longer in active politics and therefore he would refrain from such activities. The Bharatiya Janata Party leadership had to decide on the issue , he added.

Interestingly, some supporters of Mr. Khurana had recommended the name of his son, Vimal Khurana, for the Moti Nagar seat and sent the same to the Delhi unit election committee. However, Mr. Khurana's reluctance to allow his family member to jump into the electoral fray could give sleepless nights to many within the party. It is also crucial that the Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Vijay Goel, gets the backing of Mr. Khurana and his supporters in the Sadar Parliamentary constituency as the Moti Nagar segment plays a crucial role in deciding the victory or defeat margin of the candidates.

However, sources within the party informed that an all-out effort is under way to placate Mr. Khurana and ensure his support for both the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in his area. In fact, the party is of the view that despite Mr. Khurana's postures, it should be left to him to decide the candidate for the Moti Nagar seat.

Interestingly, Mr. Goel had begun preparations to contest the election for this seat a long time ago and had even been interacting with the eminent personalities and Residents' Welfare Associations of the area trying to resolve their problems and seek their support for his candidature.

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