New Delhi   

BJP fails to nail Congress

Sujay Mehdudia

Party could not cash in on public anger against sealing

NEW DELHI: Nothing better than sealing and demolitions along with the poor power and water situation in the Capital could have provided the BJP with an opportunity to corner the Congress-led Delhi Government. However, due to intense infighting, lack of proper direction and leadership crisis in its Delhi unit, the party has failed to cash in on the growing public anger against the Congress regime.

Even as the fear of sealing from October 31 onward haunts lakhs of traders in the city, there is hardly any voice in the Opposition that could take up their cause and corner the Congress Governments in Delhi and at the Centre to take steps to address the issues presently facing Delhiites. Despite having a large number of stalwarts in their ranks from the local unit, the BJP leaders, with a few exceptions, are hardly visible agitating with the traders or in their favour. The ongoing organisational polls have taken away the attention of the party from the real issues and all the leaders are busy lobbying for the top slot in the party.

For instance, former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma has suddenly disappeared from Delhi politics but continues to lobby behind the scene for the post of president of the Delhi unit.

However, insiders say the main source of disillusionment within the party is the "divide-and-rule game" being played by the Member of Parliament from South Delhi who is in charge of the party's Delhi affairs, Vijay Kumar Malhotra. After the exit of former Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, the party has fallen back on Mr. Malhotra but that does not seem to have helped matters as the party has lost focus of the issues and failed to perform as an effective Opposition both inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha.

It is learnt that Mr. Malhotra is backing the candidature of the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Jagdish Mukhi, for the post of the party's Delhi unit president and wants the outgoing president Harsh Vardhan to be accommodated in his place.

"The problem is everybody thinks that whoever becomes the local party president would continue till the next Delhi Assembly elections. Mr. Malhotra is keen to have his own man in this important slot in the hope that if the BJP comes to power his name would find acceptance as Chief Minister,'' remarked a senior BJP leader.

However, Mr. Mukhi's candidature could face tough competition from former Union Minister Vijay Goel who has become active and is individually leading agitations over the issues of sealing, demolitions and water and power situation.

Mr. Goel is also considered close to party president Rajnath Singh and also has the backing of the Sangh Parivar.

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

Stories in this Section

BJP fails to nail Congress
Disney characters offer kids a reason to rejoice... .
Dengue detection kit launched
JNU central library to go world-class
MCD officials, builders raided
An amalgamation of forms with several layers of meaning... .
Showcasing a dynamic dance tradition
Held for murders, carjacking
Protest in `Gandhigiri' style
Arrested for burglary
Road projects approved
Computer centre for slum kids
Delhi gets a new hospital
Court orders deportation of 300 monkeys
Around the City
Briefly
In the Capital Today
Singapore asks India to look east

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu