The Hindu : New Delhi News : V.K. Malhotra likely to be BJP's CM candidate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 26, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

V.K. Malhotra likely to be BJP's CM candidate

Staff Reporter

`One person who can curb infighting within the party'

NEW DELHI: Though Assembly elections in Delhi are still some distance away, the Central party leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party is in the process of projecting Member of Parliament from South Delhi and party in-charge Delhi Vijay Kumar Malhotra as its most likely chief ministerial candidate.

A number of senior party leaders are of the view that Mr. Malhotra has the dynamism and the following to lead the party to victory in Delhi. Also, they believe that he is one person who would be able to curb infighting within the party. Also, his projection as the Chief Minister would be acceptable to most as he is a very senior and respected leader.

Though Mr. Malhotra had clearly stated during his 75th birthday celebrations on December 19 that he would not be the party's chief ministerial candidate for Delhi and he was "not in the race", sources said the presence of senior BJP leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L. K. Advani and Rajnath Singh along with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K.S. Sudarshan at the event had shown the prominence of Mr. Malhotra.

And ever since, the manner in which senior BJP and RSS leaders had organised lunches in his honour have only led further credence to the view that he would be the natural choice for leading the party in the Delhi Assembly elections, which are still over a year and a half away.

Though Arun Jaitley was also seen as another prospective candidate for the post, it is believed that he is not too inclined towards it and would rather keep his place in the party's Central leadership.

While former Chief Minister Sahib Singh is also keen on being projected as a chief ministerial candidate, he does not enjoy much support within the party, which is also not very happy with his past performance.

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