Announcement of BJP’s candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in the Capital has been delayed as the saffron party was eagerly waiting the result of ongoing seat sharing talks between the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress.  Delhi BJP insiders say names will be announced on April 21.

There are enough indications that BJP would prefer to field the sitting MPs if AAP and Congress join hands.  However, new candidates will be fielded in the event of Congress —AAP alliance not being formalised.

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on hinted the talks between AAP and Congress have failed as Congress has been too intransigent over seat sharing formula. The development has come a day after a public spat between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and AAP  (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on social media pertaining to on/off speculations over alliance.

Interestingly, if both the parties decide to contest elections together, there are chances of consolidation of vote share and anti-incumbency factor for sitting BJP MPs also a significant factor, hence AAP - Congress alliance factor may propel to opt for old candidates.  However, if AAP and Congress contest separately, then BJP would be sitting pretty in the National Capital.

Buoyed by the political development, the BJP has speeded up its candidate selection process for the seven Lok Sabha seats. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, who is campaigning in West Bengal, was summoned back for an important meeting on candidate selection on Wednesday, sources said.

The party is “keenly watching” developments related to the alliance but it is ready with its strategy to tackle any emerging situation, a top BJP leader said. “Some adjustments may be there in case of an (AAP-Congress) alliance. But, even in the worst case scenario,

only 2-3 sitting MPs may be replaced with fresh candidates,” he said.

The BJP is ready to face the situation where it will have to contest the elections against an alliance in Delhi, said a Delhi BJP leader.

 “We are confident of winning the elections, alliance or no alliance in Delhi. For them (Congress and AAP), its a choice between durgati (misery) and veergati (martyrdom),” he said.

It may be noted that BJP had won all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in the 2014 General Elections.

The list of BJP candidates in Delhi is expected in next few days after the picture of the alliance is clear, the party leader added.

The nomination process for seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi began Tuesday. The last date for filing nominations is April 23.