The Hindu : New Delhi News : `I am not in the race'

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Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006
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New Delhi

`I am not in the race'

Special Correspondent

V.K. Malhotra states he is not Chief Ministerial candidate

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra, BJP president Rajnath Singh, RSS chief K.S. Sudershan and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at `Amrit Mahotsava Samahroh' in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW DELHI: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the Member of Parliament from South Delhi, on Tuesday stated publicly that he would not be the party's Chief Ministerial candidate for Delhi.

The occasion was a party celebration of his 75th birthday. The Delhi unit of the BJP had made it a big show and senior party leaders including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Rajnath Singh were there to give him their good wishes.

Contribution recalled

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat conveyed his greetings to him and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader K.S. Sudarshan came over for the event organised at Mavlankar auditorium.

Each one of them recalled Mr. Malhotra's contribution to the Sangh and the BJP over a period of six decades during which he had remained "true to the RSS ideology".

Acknowledging the party leaders' greetings and good wishes, Mr. Malhotra said some people thought that the big show was planned to project him as the party's next Chief Ministerial candidate. "Let me dispel that impression. I am not in the race for that position," he asserted.

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