With Delhi going to the polls in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha Elections on May 12, the Delhi BJP leadership has got time to decide on its candidates for the seven Parliamentary constituencies. While the names of celebrities like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Akshay Kumar have been doing the rounds as potential Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates, there has been no confirmation till now.
This has left the BJP with no choice but to repeat its sitting Members of Parliament (MPs). However, grievances put forward by party workers against the sitting MPs had raised concerns of the High Command which has decided to again seek feedback from public and party cadres before finalising its candidates. Sources said, the BJP is likely to field new candidates in at least three Lok Sabha constituencies.
Former cricketer 37-year - old, Gambhir may contest the Lok Sabha election from Meenakshi Lekhi’s constituency. Gambhir, a resident of Rajinder Nagar was recently awarded ‘Padma Sri’. Gambhir was a high profile campaigner for Union Minister Arun Jaitley in 2014 in Amritsar district of Punjab.
Gambhir may get the nod New Delhi Constituency as he has been quite active on social media on contemporary politics and his recent tweets on Pulwama terror attack. Gambhir the former Indian opener has offered educational support to the children of the martyrs.
Sources in Delhi BJP also said that besides his public image, Gambhir can become a fresh face for BJP as he has been extremely critical of Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister and the Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
“Delhi political dynamics have changed after the emergence of AAP as it has managed to wean away sizeable number of
Purvanchali votes from the BJP,” said an office bearer of Delhi BJP. “It is s three - way contest with AAP and the Congress, joining the fray” said a political watcher.
Citing a recent survey and a video conference of party high command with booth level workers, old guards in the Delhi BJP office feel the visible communication gap among the workers with the sitting MPs.
This is going to be an overriding reason to field fresh faces on certain seats.
“Party high command has learnt from the survey that sitting MPs are reluctant to meet the grievances of locals , moreover 15 to 20 booth level workers also submitted their complaints for non - cooperative approach of the MPs in addressing public issues,” sources added.
Realising that AAP is going whole hog over full statehood issue, Manoj Tiwari the president of Delhi BJP unit said, “Kejriwal has strongly damaged the cause of full statehood by trying to stop the January 26th Parade.”
Echoing the popular slogan Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi, Tiawri fumed and said, Delhi people confident to see Narendra Modi again their Prime Minister.
“Delhi people gave massive mandate but he betrayed people’s trust but the reality is different from papers, Kejriwal has failed to fulfill his promises on CCTV, free Wi-Fi, potable water and controlling pollution n Delhi,” said Tiwari.
Union minister of state for Planning & Statistics,Vijay Goel also slammed Kejriwal over the issue of full statehood, and said that there was no possibility of statehood owing to antics and drama of Kejriwal.
Goel, a former Delhi BJP president, said, “I will hold Holika Dahan (ritual bonfire before Holi) at Jantar Mantar, and torch a tower made of newspaper advertisements of Kejriwal Government. Placards listing unfulfilled promises of Arvind Kejriwal will also be torched.” Meanwhile, BJP leaders are keenly watching the developments surrounding the possible AAP Congress alliance that would help the party finalise its poll strategy accordingly.
