The Hindu : New Delhi News : Race for Delhi BJP chief post intensifies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 10, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Race for Delhi BJP chief post intensifies

Sujay Mehdudia

"New chief could stake claim to Chief Minister's post' Top contenders: Sahib Singh Verma, Nand Kishore Garg, Vijay Goel, S.P. Ratawal, Jagdish Mukhi and O.P. Kohli

NEW DELHI: Infighting seems to have broken out among the Delhi BJP leaders to stake their claim for the post of the president of the Delhi unit in the ongoing organisational polls that are expected to conclude next month with the election of a new leader. The race has intensified under the assumption that whoever leads the party this time would automatically qualify to stake claim to the Chief Minister's post during the Assembly polls.

Insiders in the party informed that at present the elections to the blocks and districts are being held and it is expected that the Delhi unit president would be elected by the end of next month as per the schedule given by the Central party leadership.

Among the top contenders for this post are former Union Minister Sahib Singh Verma; former Parliamentary Secretary Nand Kishore Garg; former Union Minister Vijay Goel; Dalit leader and Deputy Leader in the Assembly S.P. Ratawal; Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Jagdish Mukhi; and former party president, O.P. Kohli.

It is understood that Delhi affairs in charge and South Delhi MP, V.K. Malhotra, is trying to set up his loyalists after the exit of Delhi strongman and former Chief Minister, Madan Lal Khurana. Sources informed that Mr. Malhotra, with his eye on the Chief Minister's post, is promoting Mr. Mukhi for the post.

The present incumbent Harsh Vardhan cannot be granted another term and now his name is being floated for the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly. It is understood that Mr. Malhotra wants both Mr. Mukhi and Dr. Harsh Vardhan to exchange the posts so that he has his own people at the helm of affairs in the party and the Assembly.

Mr. Vijay Goel is also a strong contender for the post and has left no stone unturned to ensure his visibility. A section of the party feels that due to a strong presence of Dalits and SCs in the Capital, it would be in the best interests of the party to nominate or elect a Dalit candidate and Mr. Ratawal fits the bill.

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