The Hindu : New Delhi News : Race for Delhi BJP top post hots up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 06, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Race for Delhi BJP top post hots up

Staff Reporter

In the process party has once again lost a chance to corner the Delhi Govt. on power and water crisis and price rise

NEW DELHI: With senior local party leaders busy trying to outdo each other in their bid for the post of Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party president, elections to which are due in September this year, the party has once again lost an opportunity to corner the Congress Government in Delhi on the issue of poor power and water crisis and the sharp increase in the prices of essential commodities recently.

Although there have been symbolic agitations against the price rise, increase in diesel and petrol costs and other issues, these were the result of directions issued by the national leadership of the party.

Insiders in the party are of the view that the intense lobbying for the post has been triggered by the notion that whosoever becomes the president of the local unit would go on to become the Chief Minister of the Capital in case the party is voted back to power during the December 2008 Assembly polls.

Not only this, the president will also be instrumental in distributing party tickets during the MCD polls early next year and the Assembly elections later.

What has made the contest very interesting is the reported decision of former Union Minister and national vice-president Sahib Singh Verma to take a shot at the top post. Although, Mr. Verma has not made public his intentions, but the lobbying by him and his supporters is a clear indication that he is serious contender for the Delhi BJP president's post.

Former Union Minister Vijay Goel, who has a good equation with party president Rajnath Singh and other leaders, has also emerged as a frontrunner for the post and is serious about becoming the local unit head. Mr. Goel has been trying to mend fences with the local leaders and has even interacted with party cadres seeking to dispel the impression that he is not accessible. The very fact that he has been taking up issues affecting Delhi in a big manner, he has made his intentions very clear.

Similarly, Deputy Leader of the House S.P. Ratawal, belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, is also a strong contender for the post.

Mr. Ratawal is being favoured by a number of senior party leaders in view of the caste equations that have emerged.

A view is emerging within the party that in view of the increased presence of the SC community in the Capital and their important role in deciding outcome of elections in nearly 25 constituencies across the city, the party should settle for a SC candidate for the top post.

Another serious contender is senior party leader and former Parliamentary Secretary Nand Kishore Garg.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi